Women in Bauchi charged to imbibe the culture of eating balance diet.

BY ALIYU ADAMU FAGGO

Women in Bauchi state have been charged to imbibe the habit of eating balance diet for their healthy living and that of their children.

The Head of the Department of Nutrition and Diatistic of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital Bauchi, Alhaji Ibrahim Muhammad made the call during a two day sensitization meeting for women development groups on the promotion of maternal and child Nutrition organized by the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists in partnership with UNICEF and the Office of the State First Lady held at Development Exchange Centre Bauchi.

He said the importance of balance diet for women during and after pregnancy cannot be over emphasize, hence the need for women to eat such food.

The HOD revealed that, over eighty percent of breast milk is water and encouraged mothers to be drinking water regularly for the benefit of their health and new burn babies in general.

He noted that, personal and environmental hygiene play a crucial role in the society, urged mothers to prevent and clean themselves so as to remain healthy.

Alhaji Ibrahim Muhammad, urged women in the state to reduce the use of artificial spices, which according to him have negative effect on health condition of people.

Speaking at the sensitization center, a UNICEF Communication Partner, Alhaji Umar Shira, said statistics have revealed that more than half of Nigerians live under an extreme poor sanitation where only four out of every one hundred children under five years of age sleep under an insecticide treated net.

Alhaji Umar Shira who lamented on the high rate of children roaming the street without food, charged parents to take their full responsibilities.

The State NAWOJ Chairperson, Hajiya Rashida Yusuf described the sensitization as essential for the entire state due to cases of malnutrition so far recorded from January to date in the society.

Hajiya Rashida Yusuf emphasized the need for Women groups in the state to sensitize and bring out strategies so as to reduce the menace to the bearest minimum in the society.

The NAWOJ National Zonal Secretary, Hajiya Hauwa Aliyu said issue of malnutrition is alarming in the state which demands urgent intervention towards tackling it withing the society.

She called on government, donor agencies as well as wealthy individuals to support aimed at achieving the set objectives

The Zonal Secretary commended the giant strides of UNICEF and the office of the state first lady in collaboration with the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists for organizing the training and urged them to maintain the spirit.