WAPA charges women on family nutrition

The Lagos State Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA) has charged women to take charge of the nutrition of their families to enhance the health and well-being of the family. Mrs Oluyemi Kalesanwo, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, gave the advice at a Health Nutrition Programme organised for women in Somolu, Lagos.

Kalesanwo said:” I have noticed while carrying out a survey that women are generally responsible for the nutrition of the home and a lot of Nigerians are not taking adequate nutritional food…The Lagos State Government has decided to reach out to women through WAPA to coordinate good nutritional food.

“Women should take charge of their family nutrition to ensure their children eat well instead of giving them junk food…Food doesn’t have to be very expensive but rather it should be a good balance diet when the right proportion is taken”.

She said the ministry started the programme in 2021 to commemorate the maiden edition of the World Nutrition Day celebration. “We started this programme in 2021 as part of plans to alleviate poverty while over 2,000 women that reside in Lagos were sensitised on good dietary habits using staple edibles.”

Mrs Tinuola Afeniforo, who was the resource person, advised participants at the event to inculcate good eating habits to maintain good health and well-being. Afeniforo said they should include more fruits and vegetables in their daily consumption and shun unhealthy food.

“You don’t need to spend a huge amount of money to eat food with good nutrition, people spend more money when they eat junk food,” she said.

Some of the beneficiaries who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) commended Lagos State Government for organising the programme.

Mrs Abosede Jamiu, a trader said she would make corrections to her eating habits to maintain good health.

“…With this programme I will be able to make the right choice of food when eating,” she said.

Also, Mrs Joy Johnson, a trader, said she was now well informed on the benefits of eating healthy food.