By Grace Onwukwe
Anambra East Local Government Area has inaugurated a Committee on Food and Nutrition to address the challenges of malnutrition in the area. The initiative aligns with the Federal Government’s Nutrition 774 Agenda, which aims to strengthen nutrition education at the grassroots and combat malnutrition through the Mother, Infant and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN) approach.
The inauguration ceremony, held on February 4, at the Local Government Headquarters, Otuocha, forms part of the government’s bottom-up strategy to address malnutrition. The programme seeks to promote the consumption of natural food sources, encourage balanced diets, and prevent stunting and wasting among children, as well as anaemia in pregnant women.
The committee was inaugurated by the State Nutrition Officer, Dr Rose Amasiani, who represented the State Government, the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning and State Focal Person, Steering Committee on Food and Nutrition, Mrs Chiamaka Nnake, as well as the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning and Chairman, State Council on Food and Nutrition, Mrs Chinyere Nwabachili.
Members of the newly inaugurated committee include: Hon. Dr Martina Nwawube – Deputy Mayor (Chairman); Mkpojiogu Dozie Monica – Local Government Nutrition Focal Person (Secretary); Mr Nwabuike Victor – Head of Local Government Administration (HLGA); Hon. Kenneth Onwuegbuzina – Supervisory Councillor for Health; Hon. Okechukwu Ekwealor – Supervisory Councillor for Agriculture; Dr Offor Christy – Director, Primary Health Care (PHC), Anambra East; Mrs Okafor Njideka C. – Head of Department, Education/Social Services; Mrs Igbokwe Gladys A. – Information Officer (D.I); and Mrs Akunna Ujunwa Lynda – Senior Medical Officer/Health Educator.
Others are Mr Marba Stan C. – Education/Social Welfare; Mr Okwudiri Obiefuna – Local Government Secretary; and Mr Chike Michael N. – Head of Department, Agriculture.
The committee was encouraged to expand its membership to include philanthropists and community stakeholders. It was also advised to ensure the creation of a dedicated budget line for nutrition activities, establish a WhatsApp platform for effective coordination, hold quarterly meetings, and submit regular reports to the state for onward transmission to the national level. In addition, the committee is expected to contribute data to the Governor’s Nutrition Scorecard, a key tool for assessing state performance at national and global levels.
Representing the Mayor of Anambra East, Hon. Sir Ifeanyi Chinweze, the Deputy Mayor and Committee Chairman, Dr Martina Nwawube, expressed delight at the inauguration and pledged the council’s full support to ensure effective service delivery. She commended Governor Chukwuma Soludo for his leadership and commitment to improving nutrition and health outcomes across the state.
Dr Nwawube noted that Anambra East, being an agrarian local government area, contributes significantly to the state’s food basket. She urged residents to actively engage in agriculture and embrace the consumption of natural food sources. She assured that the committee would work tirelessly to ensure that no community is left behind in promoting healthy living and improved nutrition practices.
In a vote of thanks, the Head of Local Government Administration, Mr Victor Nwabuike, appreciated the state team for the inauguration. He described the committee as a change agent and urged members to remain focused despite the challenges associated with changing long-established negative nutrition mindsets within communities.
Members of the state team in attendance included Mrs Orji Obianamma B. from the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning and Grace Onwukwe from the Ministry of Information.
Grace is of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State
