In furtherance of the Anambra State government health sector initiative aimed at ensuring healthy growth for children, the wife of the Governor, Chief (Mrs.) Ebelechukwu Obiano has called on mothers to ensure they feed their children with balanced diet and nutritious vegetables to help keep them away from worm infestation that may lead to stunted growth of an average child.

She made the call at the launch of Anambra State-Wide Free De-Worming programme for school age children 1-15 years at Central Primary School, Isu-Anaocha, Awka North Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.

The Governors’ wife said that the launch of the De-Worming programme was essential because worm-free children grow healthy and strong.

In her words; “The food a child eats while growing up is important because it helps both their physical and mental development.

“Although resources are scarce and we are in a recession, mothers should try and feed children with vegetables. I know from experience that most children don’t like it but vegetables can be made tasty when you blend it with plantain and banana.

“That way, they eat healthy and can avoid incidents that may make them vulnerable to worm or other infections.”

Mrs. Obiano thanked the implementing partners like United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and people of Isu-Anaocha especially the women, teachers and the children for coming out en mass for the occasion.

Earlier in his address on the importance of the De-worming programme, Anambra State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joe Akabike said that the exercise was launched to prepare children in primary schools for the Federal Government School Feeding programme by commencing the de-worming ahead to ensure that the children are worm-free and ready.

He noted that another importance of the programme was ensuring that the food are hygienically prepared kept safe from worms before consumption.

The Commissioner‎ explained that the Anambra State government is committing N25 million worth of drugs to the De-worming programme which will be a week-long exercise across the state.

He however, commended the implementing partners for conducting the Needs Assessment Survey of Poverty Distribution and Access to Social Services in 21 LGAs in Anambra State conducted by the UNDP in conjunction with the state Ministry of Economic Planning.

He observed that the assessment identified six under-served LGAs that are mainly located in remote agrarian communities including Anambra North which was chosen for the launch of the free de-worming programme.

Akabuike also revealed that Anambra scored nine points in the nation-wide assessment of the rate of stunted growth coming first ahead of other states adding that the state is committed to reducing the rate of prevalence to zero.

While highlighting the programmes of the state in the health sector, he assured of government’s determination to improve the health and living conditions of Anambra people.

Some of the programmes of the health sector include rehabilitation of 65 Primary Health Centres, Drug Revolving Fund, setting up of a Central Drug Store, rehabilitation of General Hospitals in the Senatorial Districts, ‎as well as the Health Insurance Scheme which would soon take-off among others.

•Photo shows Chief (Mrs.) Ebelechukwu Obiano performing the launch of the Anambra State-Wide Free De-worming programme, with Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joe Akabike, and Member, Committee on Girl-Child Education in the Federal Ministry of Health, Professor Uche Amazigo, and others observing . . . at Central School, Isu-Anaocha, Awka North Local Government Area.

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