By Samaila Bayo, Birnin kebbi
Kebbi State chapter of the Progressive Women and Youth Development (PWYP) has taken its nutrition awareness advocacy to the Antenatal Care (ANC) Unit of Sir Yahaya Memorial Hospital, Birnin Kebbi.
The campaign was aimed at educating pregnant and nursing mothers on the nutritional value of locally available foods that promotes healthier dietary practices to improve maternal and child health outcomes for children
Speaking during the sensitization programme on Wednesday, the Chief Executive Officer of PWYP, Mrs Hassana Samuel said the initiative was designed to address malnutrition among women, particularly pregnant mothers, through improved knowledge of balanced diets and nutrition. She added that the initiative focused on affordable and nutritious local food options that could support healthy pregnancies and child development
During the advocacy, varieties of local foods, including soya beans, millet, watermelon, sweet potatoes, groundnuts, fish and other nutritious items were displayed.
Hassana said many maternal health complications, including severe anaemia, are linked to poor nutrition and inadequate understanding of how to combine foods for maximum nutritional benefits. “The essence of bringing this awareness campaign to the ANC unit is to enlighten women in our communities on how they can access affordable and nutritious meals from the local foods available around them. Also Read - Stakeholders promote free clubfoot treatment “These foods contain the nutrients needed for healthy pregnancies, but many women are unaware of how to combine them properly to derive maximum nutritional benefits.
She said her team were at the hospital to teach the women practical ways of preparing balanced meals using local ingredients while emphasizing the importance of encouraging households to retain part of their harvests for family consumption instead of selling all the farm produce. “We are equally promoting the consumption of local foods. People should understand that they do not need to sell all their farm produce after harvest. “Some should be preserved for household nutrition,” she said
She said that the organisation had initially planned to engage 25 nursing mothers during the outreach but recorded attendance of more than 50 women. “We requested 25 participants, but more than 50 women attended because it coincided with their antenatal clinic day. “This provided us with a valuable opportunity to educate more women on healthy nutrition practices,” she said. Samuel explained that the programme included practical demonstrations on how to combine fruits, vegetables and other locally available food items to achieve a balanced diet. She also highlighted the health benefits of regular fruit consumption, noting that simple dietary choices could significantly improve maternal health and reduce complications during pregnancy and childbirth.
“We do not want to simply provide supplements; rather, we want to empower women with knowledge on how to utilise the food resources available to them. “Our mission is to help save the lives of women and children through better nutrition,” she said.
The PWYP chief further disclosed that in spite of funding challenges, the organisation would continue expanding the campaign to hospitals and primary healthcare centres across the state. She said the expansion would ensure that more women benefited from nutrition education and awareness programmes aimed at improving maternal and child health outcomes.
