Septuagenarian distributes food to tackle malnutrition among children

A 75-year-old volunteer in Bauchi State, Hajiya Uwani Umar, has started producing and distributing therapeutic food to families with malnourished children in Azare, Katagum Local Government Area.

Umar told the newsmen in Azare on Sunday that the food comprised local grains, such as groundnut, soy beans, wheat and millet, among other items.

She said that the food was packaged to feed babies for three to four days.

“I started using this food about 12 years ago when I adopted an abandoned child and had to nurture her.

“You cannot simply take your eyes off the children because it has become a public concern.

“So, I realised that the locally homemade tom brown food is nutritious and good for child development.

“I also started creating awareness among families and friends on how to mix the grains in the last 12 years, introducing the same to women in remote communities, including Bulkachuwa and environs,” Umar said.

According to her, primary health facilities refer women to her for training on how to prepare the infant meal.

“I was in Bulkachuwa Community with the consent of the community leader, where the mothers were assembled to collect the commodity.

“From the interaction with mothers of most of the malnourished babies, they do not access and complete immunisation.

“There were mothers that refuse to access uptake of child spacing, therefore, getting pregnant, while breastfeeding without visiting facility for counselling,” Umar said.

She called for male engagement at all levels to immediately change the notion among households.

“Male engagement is core for them to take action and rescue the future of these babies from stunted growth and wasting,” she further said.