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| Dr. Betta Edu, Director General, Cross River State Primary Health Care Development Agency with Nollywood actor, Segun Arinze |
Harvest plus a leading organization in Nigeria with higher focus on health being of the people is unveiling their program in Calabar theme ” Multi sectoral partnership to promote more nutritious crops and foods in Nigeria (you are what you eat).
DG CRSPHCDA, Dr Betta Edu who received the promoters of harvest plus in her office said nutrition which is one of flagship programmes of the agency like other programs ( Immunization, IMCI and State Malaria Elimination Program) plays pivotal roles in the state health sector. She noted that Nutrition is one vital area receiving the attention of the state government especially in hard to reach areas of the state, IDP camps in Bakassi and Akpabuyo and at the northern part of the state where some nutritional deficiencies like vitamin A and iodine deficiencies exist.
His Excellency, Sen (Prof) Ben Ayade and his wife who is also a medical practitioner, Dr Linda Ayade have instructed the agency to assess and intetvene several times in areas where malnutrition was reported like the bakassi IDP camp. The Governor Sen. Ben Ayade has recently visited these places to ascertain the report he received and we have started intervention through the Maternal new born and child health week were we distributed vitamin A, folic acid B Complex etc and held health talks with mothers across communities on the local nutritious meals the can give their children to overvome malnutrition.
Presently we are planing long lasting solution to malnutrition in the state as such having harvest plus bring in cassava with vitamin A and other food seedings that will be planted with different nutrient is a blessing at the right time.
Furthermore chosing to hold these event in calabar will help boost the Health and Agricultural sector, bring tourism traffic to the state as these would feature prominent Nollywood actors like segun arinze and producers who are ambassadors of the program.
“This event will help in sensitizing the people on the basic effect of eating nutritious foods which would be cost effective to the state as the people will not be depending on vitamin A or folic acid tablets supplied by the State to all health facilities. We will support and be part of the event, our Nutrition unit will make useful contributions.
Mr Fidelis Ducker, Founder of Abuja Film Festival has earlier brief the DG that as part of the promise to add value to food security and health of Nigerians through development and delivery of more nutritious staple crops, Harvest Plus is pleased to partner with the Agency on a 3 day Nutritious food fair tagged “NFF 2016” According to him the event is intended to strengthen partnerships and update policy makers, research institutions, extension institutions, private sector, farmers, consumers and other stakeholders in the nutrition and health sector on the progress made in the development commercialization and consumption of more nutritious foods in Nigeria. We seek the support of the Agency and Cross River State Government towards achieving great success in this program.
Nollywood veteran actor and promoter of the event, Mr Segun Arinze said the program is aligned with the current government efforts to address malnutrition which account for over 40% of death of children under five and women of child bearing age in Nigeria according to FMOH in 2015.
The 2016 Nutritious Food Fair (NFF) is a three day event that will bring together stakeholders from international sector, MDAs , Researchers and private sector to Calabar International Convention Centre, Tinapa from 9th November, 2016 to 11th November 2016. Everyone is invited ….lets do it the calabar way!!!!
