REPORTER: UCHE NDEKE
The Anambra State Government has commenced preparations for the official flag-off of a Food Bank programme designed to provide food and nutritional support to vulnerable people affected by food insecurity across the state.
The programme which will be officially flagged off by the First Lady of Nigeria Senator Oluremi Tinubu when she visits the state next week, is targeted at children aged zero to six years pregnant women and lactating mothers.
The beneficiaries will be assessed at health facilities closest to them to determine their nutritional needs and eligibility for the intervention.
The Commissioner for Health Doctor Afam Obidike stated this during a preparatory meeting for the programme and stressed that the initiative would focus on people identified as being in need of nutritional support.
Doctor Obidike explained that health workers would play a key role in identifying beneficiaries through proper assessment at primary healthcare centres and other health facilities across the state.
The Commissioner said the state would also determine the number and percentage of eligible beneficiaries to enable proper planning and effective distribution of available food supplies.
Doctor Obidike noted that the state would embark on extensive sensitisation to create awareness about the programme and encourage eligible families to visit the nearest primary healthcare centre or health facility for assessment.
According to him, the sensitisation would be carried out through radio and television announcements ,social media platforms ,town announcers and other communication channels to ensure that the information reaches the intended beneficiaries.
Correspondent Uche Ndeke reports that present at the meeting were the Commissioner for Agriculture, Doctor Chuks Odoemena, the Executive Secretary Anambra State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Doctor Chizoba Ezeasor and representatives of the Bank of Africa.
