Children in Bichi and Sumaila local government areas received interventions through the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), in collaboration with Kano state government and a Non Governmental Organization , Society for Women Development and Empowerment (SWODEN).
According to UNICEF, the dietary diversity modelling pilot project (DDMPP), is the first of it’s kind in the country, which has served as a catalyst to developing children’s nutrition by improving their diets, and protecting them aginst malnutrition and childhood killer diseases.
A beneficiary, Malama Hindatu Umar, from Yandutse community, in Bichi local government area, explained that fifteen women from each group benefitted from animals, vegetables and fruit seedlings to set up a garden.
She maintained that, the chickens and goats were reared for eggs, milk production, and reproduction to cater for the child’s nutritional needs.
“We were counselled on how to cook and feed the children, we recieve intervention through our group leader”
Similarly, Malama Hauwa Jaafar whose husband is the custodian of the cluster vegetable garden, donated by UNICEF to Kau Kau Fulani community support group, described the program as a success.
She said UNICEF donated improved seedlings and vegetables to set up a garden, which has gone a long way in improving the health of their children.
Malama Hauwa stressed that, children consume vegetables from the garden while eggs, meat and mikl from the chickens and goats were added to their food to ensure that all essential vitamins are contained in the diet.
UNICEF’S nutrition officer, Mrs. Abigail Nyam who spoke to Radio Nigeria noted that DDPMPP had improved consumption of adequate diverse diet by children from 6-23 months.
She said in addition to the dietary provision, a complimentary feeding bowl’ was given to the mother’s to address diet quality through the dietary diversity rim including food groups.
Mrs. Nyam highlighted that the pilot dietary diversity project has been integrated into an existing wider package of nutrition services for the delivery of nutrition specific interventions.
Radio Nigeria reports that, 44 communities in Bichi, and 24 in Sumaila local government areas were selected for the pilot project, where clusters of 15 women support group receive interventions to boost children’s nutritional needs.
KHADIJAH ALIYU
