By Stanley Nwako
The Anambra State Government has commenced preparations for the official flag-off of a Food Bank programme aimed at providing food and nutritional support to vulnerable people affected by food insecurity across the state.
The programme, which will be officially flagged off by the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, is designed to support vulnerable groups, particularly children aged 0–6 years, pregnant women and lactating mothers. Beneficiaries will be assessed at health facilities closest to them to determine their nutritional needs and eligibility for the intervention.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr Afam Obidike, stated this during a preparatory meeting for the programme, stressing that the initiative would focus on people identified as being in need of nutritional support.
Dr Obidike explained that health workers would play a key role in identifying beneficiaries through proper assessment at primary healthcare centres and other health facilities across the state.
He said children, pregnant women and lactating mothers identified as requiring nutritional support would be assessed by health workers to determine their needs and eligibility for the food intervention.
The Commissioner said the state would also determine the number and percentage of eligible beneficiaries to enable proper planning and effective distribution of available food supplies.
He stressed the need for proper management and distribution of the food items to ensure that they reach the people who need them most.
Dr Obidike added that the state would embark on extensive sensitisation to create awareness about the programme and encourage eligible families to visit the nearest primary healthcare centre or health facility for assessment.
According to him, the sensitisation would be carried out through radio and television announcements, social media platforms, town announcers and other communication channels to ensure that the information reaches the intended beneficiaries.
Dr Obidike further disclosed that the Governor’s wife was also preparing a similar initiative aimed at supporting vulnerable children in the state, with about 8,000 children expected to benefit.
He said the initiatives would complement the state government’s ongoing efforts to tackle food insecurity and malnutrition and improve the health and wellbeing of mothers and children across Anambra State.
Present at the meeting were the Commissioner for Agriculture, Anambra State, Dr Chuks Odoemena; the Executive Secretary, Anambra State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Chizoba Ezeasor; and representatives of the Bank of Africa.
