WorldStage Newsonline— Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki has expressed concerned about the health status of people in the state which he said must be improved by encouraging the consumption of healthy food.
T of Edo on Wednesday inaugurated the state’s Food and Nutrition Committee to ensure a sustainable roadmap towards identifying and in the state.
Speaking before inauguration of the Food and Nutrition Committee at Government House in Benin, the governor said he was concerned about the health status and nutrition of the people, particularly the very young ones and the old.
“Eating nutritious food goes a long way in maintaining a healthy lifestyle that is why this committee is important. We are aware that there is a connection between nutrition, preventive medicine, girl-child education, women empowerment and childhood development,’’ Obaseki said.
He directed the committee to identify the problems of nutrition in the state, coordinate efforts in improving nutrition and to ensure adequate resource allocation to address malnutrition issues.
“The committee has the mandate to identify efforts already put in place by various institutions to tackle malnutrition in the state and to review the strategies to tackle it and their impact on the society.’’
The governor called for working synergy among the various stakeholders in the food and nutrition sector to avoid duplication of programmes and allow for optimal use of resources.
In her remarks, the Chairman of the committee, Mrs Vera Obadan, the Permanent Secretary, state Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, commended the governor for setting up the committee.
Obadan, who was represented by the Vice-Chairman of the committee, Prof Ignatius Onimawo, the Vice-Chancellor of Ambrose Alli University, said good nutrition is key to human development.
She said that the bedrock of nutrition is breastfeeding, regretting that the breast feeding rate in the country was low.
