Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, is set to launch a Food Bank programme in Anambra State on September 10 to provide food and nutritional support to vulnerable people affected by food insecurity.
The programme will prioritise children aged zero to six years, pregnant women and lactating mothers identified as requiring nutritional support.
The State Commissioner for Health, Dr Afam Obidike, disclosed this at a preparatory meeting for the programme, according to information made available by the ministry’s Public Relations Officer, Stanley Nwako.
Obidike explained that potential beneficiaries would be assessed at primary healthcare centres and other health facilities closest to them to determine their nutritional needs and eligibility.
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He stressed that health workers would play a key role in identifying and assessing beneficiaries, noting that the exercise would help the state determine the number and proportion of eligible recipients for effective planning and distribution of available food supplies.
The Commissioner emphasised the need for proper management and distribution of the food items to ensure that they reach those most in need.
Obidike disclosed that the state government would embark on an extensive sensitisation campaign to inform eligible families about the programme and encourage them to visit nearby primary healthcare centres or other designated health facilities for assessment.
According to him, the campaign would use radio and television announcements, social media platforms, town announcers and other communication channels to reach communities across the state.
The Commissioner also revealed that the wife of the Anambra State Governor was preparing a separate programme to support vulnerable children, with about 8,000 children expected to benefit.
He noted that the two programmes 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.
The preparatory meeting was attended by the Commissioner for Agriculture, Chuks Odoemena; the Executive Secretary of the Anambra State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Chizoba Ezeasor; and representatives of the Bank of Africa.
