Tuesday 22nd October 2019 Issue
The
Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations Social and
Behavioral Change caravan,Saturday toured North Bank Region, with a stop at the
NdunguKebbeh “Lumo” where the masses were sensitised on food fortification and
micronutrient consumption.
Mustapha
Seck, a native of Fass Omar Saho said he personally prefers his wife to cook
vegetable leaves than oil sauce because of the impacts it has on the health.
He
showed enthusiasm about the project, saying he has a garden at his backyard
where vegetable that his family consume are produced.
Alkalo
of Jokadu Karantaba, Pa Kebba Sillah expressed gratitude for exposing them to
the impact of vitamins and micronutrients.”We will be pleased if you can
provide us with seedlings in addition to the sensitisation so that our
community can also benefit from vitamins and micronutrients,” he added.
Mbye
Njie of NdunguKebbeh and HaddyJoof of Ndofan also made similar submissions,
elaborating on the benefits of crops introduced to them.
The
nationwide tour is a component of the European Union funded project “Improving
Food Security and Nutrition in The Gambia through Food Fortification”.
The
project aims at improving the nutritional and health status of vulnerable
populations from micronutrient deficiencies throughout The Gambia, and
specifically targets women, girls and children in the North Bank and Central River
regions of the Gambia.
It
is also expected to contribute to improvements in health and nutrition
indicators, especially the reduction of stunting and wasting and normal
cognitive development in children and reduced anaemia among women, as well as
reduction in complications during pregnancy and maternal mortality.
