By Chinaza Osigwe
Orumba South Local Government Area has intensified efforts to promote healthy living and combat malnutrition with the inauguration of its Local Government Committee on Food and Nutrition.The event, held on October 4 in Umunze, aligns with the Federal Government’s IN-774 Initiative, which aims to ensure a well-nourished Nigeria through improved access to adequate nutrition for sustainable development.Speaking during the inauguration, the State Nutrition Officer, Dr. Rose Amasiani, who represented the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Mrs. Chiamaka Nnake, and the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Chinyere Nwabachili, explained that the initiative adopts a grassroots approach to encourage balanced diets and prevent stunting, wasting, and anaemia.Dr. Amasiani described nutrition as a crucial pillar in addressing hunger, poverty, and disease, revealing that Nigeria ranks first in Africa and eighth globally in malnutrition prevalence, with 40% of children stunted and 60% of pregnant women anaemic.
She urged members to work collectively to improve Anambra’s nutrition scorecard ranking and ensure the creation of a dedicated budget line for nutrition programmes.The newly inaugurated committee is chaired by the Deputy Mayor of Orumba South, Hon. Ngozi Obidike, and includes top local government officials such as Mrs. Chukwulolue I.O. (HLGA), Mrs. Nnolum Ngozi (Treasurer), Mrs. Aniukwu Philomina (HOD Health), and Mrs. Ezenwata Lovina (Nutrition Focal Person), among others.Mayor of Orumba South, Hon. Shedrack Azubuike, commended Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s commitment to grassroots development and pledged full support to ensure that Orumba South becomes a model for nutrition awareness and healthy living in the state.In her remarks, Hon. Ngozi Obidike stressed the importance of embracing traditional diets to prevent diseases and promote wellbeing, while Mrs. Chukwulolue I.O. described Orumba South as one of Anambra’s food baskets and expressed confidence in the committee’s ability to achieve its goals.LGA Secretary, Hon. Chinedu Onyeacho, in his vote of thanks, described the inauguration as a milestone towards a healthier Orumba South, assuring that no community would be left behind in the fight against malnutrition and food insecurity.
