The wife of Anambra State governor, Mrs Nonye Soludo, has launched “Nonye’s Healthy Living Pap,” a groundbreaking initiative in the state, aimed at promoting healthy living and combating malnutrition among children and serves as a nutritious alternative to the traditional pap commonly consumed in the region.
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Speaking at the launching of her new project at Professor Dora Akunyili women development centre Awka, the state capital, Mrs Soludo said, “Months ago, before this idea was conceptualized, I had finished receiving a delegation from UNICEF. The central focus of that meeting was about tackling malnutrition among children in Anambra State. The revelations from UNICEF, alongside a valid will to make a difference, spurred us into action.”
“As an NGO that is basically self-funded, Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo Initiative took up this challenge, knowing at the back of our minds that we can actually make a long-term difference with the little effort.
“We are here today to launch Nonye’s Healthy Living Pap and introduce this natural formula into the state’s mitigation programme for malnutrition. Nonye’s Healthy Living Pap is a pure natural meal that contains basic dietary nutrients to help children who are dealing with acute or minor malnutrition. The meal is made up of three special ingredients, namely: groundnut, corn, and soya beans, which are rich in carbohydrates, healthy fats, fibre, protein and zinc.
“The Pap also boasts nutritional benefits like vitamins B1, B2, B3, and iron. Overall, Nonye’s Healthy Living Pap is a rich solution to nutritional deficiencies in children. The pap can also support breast milk for children above the age of six months. Everything about Nonye’s Healthy Living Pap is purely organic and natural. The production principles take strict observation of hygiene and sanitary records. We do not play with that.”
She added that the idea behind this journey is to rescue children with special nutritional needs.
“Ours is only a complementary step that supports existing strategic government policies. In the medium term, we want to move from our present second spot as the state with the lowest number of Under-5 mortality to the first position, and maintain the spot for as long as it takes. We are very close. In driving a commitment that thinks inclusiveness, we want to ensure that our children are saved from the threats of diseases aggravated by poor nutrition.
“Aware of the prevalent protein deficiency among children in Nigeria caused by accessibility, availability and affordability of food items, including protein sources, we want to close the gap by providing all-round, effective intervention for homes and communities. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals number three captures our idea most succinctly.
“We have carefully created a seamless distribution pattern for this product across the twenty-one local government areas of Anambra State. Every local government will have a known referral centre where this meal can be accessed.”
The Anambra first lady emphasized that each referral centre will develop a database that feeds the state’s central database with information about collection, monitoring, and progress.
“Every child who is on the meal will be consistently monitored to ascertain their recovery progress. Records must be kept up to date to help us evaluate cases and results. Nonye’s Healthy Living Pap is strictly for children with special nutritional needs. Local government areas with a high population of children with malnutrition will be our major focal point. Most importantly, it is 100% free of charge! I, therefore, appeal to those in whose care we are leaving this product to understand its purpose and always stick to that.
“At the top of the six pillars of our programme is Nutrition. It is so designed because every other pillar depends on it to exist. Nutrition is life. It is the core of healthy living. Take it away from the pack, and the goal is completely defeated. Nonye’s Healthy Living Pap is here to drive that purpose. I’m proud of what we can achieve with this project. The lives that will be saved. The hopes that will be restored.
” Through these challenging economic times, so many homes are dealing with arrays of needs. From food, shelter, social support, and education. Every home is facing a challenge or two. It gets even worse when children are involved in the difficulties. A family that is dealing with a difficult economic time is most likely to face failing nutritional needs. This intervention is our little effort to provide answers to some of these problems faced by families.
“As we celebrate this great milestone, I want to also remind us that the conversation on nutrition is certainly incomplete if we do not mention agriculture. Owning a small garden around your homes can go a long way to helping your family beat malnutrition. I own a garden and understand what it means to have varieties of fresh crops and vegetables behind my home. Having a garden means that you are a step close to food, sufficiency, and healthy living. Your garden can provide your families with essential crops and vegetables and help the children beat malnutrition.”
Mrs Soludo who announced that the pap is free, further urged father’s, grandmother’s and mother in law’s to help and encourage nursing mothers embark on exclusive breastfeeding.
Presenting her address, Dr. Chiioma Mbachu, a Consultant Paediatrician at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, said nutrition has a huge impact on the growth, development and health of a child.
“A child’s diet should consist of vegetables, fruit, grains, dairy, and protein. Each food group has different nutrients that the child’s body needs to grow and work properly. This intervention by the governor’s wife will offer every child in Anambra the opportunity to grow healthy and beat the threats of malnutrition,” she said
Earlier in his remarks, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Afam Obidike, said that the pap could support breast milk for children above the age of six months. He emphasized that the pap is basically for children from six months to five years.
“We have created a seamless distribution pattern for this meal across the 21 local government areas and each LGA will have a known referral centre where this meal can be accessed. Each referral centre will develop a database with information about collection, monitoring and progress. Every child on the meal will be consistently monitored to ascertain their recovery progress, he added.
Obidike appreciated Mrs Soludo for initiating the laudable project.
Contributing, the state Commissioner for women affairs, Mrs Ify Obinabo, urged parents to utilise the free pap judiciously.
In her vote of thanks, Hajia Khadijat Olahan, the leader of Hausa and Yoruba women in Anambra state, appreciated Mrs Soludo and promised to support the laudable project which is free of charge.
The highpoint of the event was the display on how to prepare the Nonye’s Healthy Living Pap by Mrs Soludo.
