Pulse.ng : HVCF trains women on addressing calcium deficiency in children through appropriate balance diet

Reports by Sani Idris

An NGO, Hope for the Village Child Foundation (HVCF) has trained women on how to address calcium deficiency in children through knowing the appropriate balance diet to give give them (children).

The food demonstration event by HVCF, was held at a rural community of Kubacha in Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna State,on February 21st .

The event was aimed at addressing calcium deficiency in foods eaten by children in the community, particularly focusing on combating rickets.

The primary focus was to educate the women on the importance of incorporating meals rich in calcium into their daily diets as a preventive measure against rickets.

The event, which featured a lecture session, enlightened the women on the significance of balanced diet which contains essential nutrients particularly calcium to combat rickets, a prevalent health concern among children and young adults in the community.

The information at the lecture session, emphasized the role of nutrition in promoting overall well-being.

The event which also featured a practical session, was a hands-on opportunity for the women to learn how to prepare nutritious meals rich in calcium for their households.

The menu included soya silk, cuscus made from hungry rice (also known as acha), and tuwo (made from grinded corn flour) with baobab (kuka) doup (a very popular meal among the locals).

Ingredients such as brisket bone, acha, fish, carrots, cabbage, onions, and others were utilized in preparing the cuscus and baobab soup.

The women actively participated in the preparation of the meals, thereby gaining practical insights into creating nutritious and wholesome dishes. The focus on local ingredients aimed to make the meals accessible and sustainable for the community.

The meals demonstrated not only showcased local ingredients but also emphasized their nutritional value, where soya milk is rich in calcium and protein as well as hungry rice, baobab, carrots, fish, tomatoes, cornmeal, cabbage, crayfish, eggs and so many other food-crops produced locally in the area.

The foods when constantly prepared and eaten in homes especially by children, collectively address nutritional deficiencies that contribute to rickets prevalence occurring in children.

The event highlighted that obtaining an adequate supply of calcium doesn’t require substantial spending.

In an interview with some of the women, they expressed joy in attending the event, stating that it enlightened them on the importance of providing nutritious meals for their children and families.

The women also expressed desire for more frequent events to further enhance their knowledge.

They extended their gratitude to HVCF’s staff and management for initiating the valuable programme.

The food demonstration event, served as a positive step towards addressing nutritional challenges and promoting healthier lifestyles within the community. It is therefore essential to continue such initiatives to ensure sustained positive impact on the well-being of the residents.

Highpoint of the event was where the meals prepared, were served to the women in attendance, which was geared towards fostering a sense of community and reinforcing the importance of incorporating the dishes into their regular diets.

The event, witnessed an enthusiastic turnout of over 100 women from the community.