NGO establishes 5 nutrition clubs to fight malnutrition in Kaduna

The Civil Society-Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN) says it has established five nutrition clubs in three local government areas of Kaduna State.

The establishment of the clubs is to promote adequate Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) practices.

The Coordinator of the NGO in the state, Ms Jessica Bartholomew, disclosed this in Kaduna on Tuesday at the Quarterly
Media Roundtable on IYCF.

Bartholomew said that the clubs, made up of children between the ages of five and 12 years, were established in one ward in each of the three local government areas, including Kaduna North, Kaduna South, and Chikun.

She explained that members of the club, with supervision from CS-SUNN, would be discussing issues about hand washing and good hygiene practices.

She added that the children would also discuss issues on food with required nutrients and vitamins that they should be eating when given the opportunity to choose from available options.

She noted that “the nutrition clubs were established under the Scaling Up Nutrition Movement Pooled Fund II project, designed to increase the effectiveness and impact of efforts to end malnutrition in all its forms.

“So far, 146 children between the ages of five and 12 years have been enlightened on personal hygiene practices and other nutrition education in the three council areas.

“Plans have also been concluded to establish the clubs in Igabi and Kajuru local government areas and schools to promote good hygiene practices and nutritional habits among schoolchildren in the state.”

She explained that under the pooled fund project, CS-SUNN had sensitised pregnant women and lactating mothers with information on IYCF, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene and key household practices.

She said that the sensitisation, conducted under nutrition education intervention, took place between January and March in the five local government areas.

“We have also carried out advocacy visits to traditional leaders, directors of primary healthcare, community leaders and other community groups across the five council areas.

“Food demonstration was also conducted and 75 lactating mothers and pregnant women benefitted, as they were taught
how to cook nutritious meals using locally available food items.

“We also reached 84 traditional leaders, women leaders and youth groups with key messages on maternal, infant and young child feeding through town hall meetings in the last three months.

“Not only that, 66 women were counselled on income generating activities and cooperative societies under the Household Economic Strengthening intervention.”

The Secretary of the organisation, Mr Daniels Akpan, said that the goal of the media roundtable was to create a platform for media engagement on progress and challenges in promoting IYCF.

This, according to him, will create more visibility and generate discussions around infant and young child feeding practices and the effectiveness of exclusive breastfeeding and adequate complementary feeding in preventing malnutrition.

Akpan said that CS-SUNN, with branches in 22 states, was working to become the leading voice in ensuring that every citizen got
nutritious food.