Tuesday
22nd October 2019 Issue
The
Social and Behavioral Change caravan on Friday sensitized Kalagi, Berefet,
Sibanor and Sintetcommunities on food fortification and micronutrient
consumption.
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 is aimed 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.
Jainaba
Jallow, a native of Berefet said the caravan tour is important and timely since
there is a quantity of food but then the food they consume is of low
quality.”Pregnant women suffer from anaemia.That does not mean that theydon’t
have vegetables that can prevent them from anaemia,” she said.
She
agreed with the presenters that peoples’ behavior towards fortified food should
be changed, adding that she personally has adopted the use of fortified food,
which have been introduced to their community.
“Looking
at us, you should be able to tell that we are healthy, and we have gone to the
extent of even being responsible for the feeding program in our schools and
this has contributed to the wellbeing of the kids,” she emphasised.
Madam
Jallow explained that they have shared the seedlings that were introduced to
their communities to other communities as well, while lamenting that both the
leaf and fruits from those seedlings when planted can be used for consumption.
On
arrival at Sintet, the villagers welcomed the new initiative but also complained
that those fortified seedlings that have already been introduced into the
country have not reached them and they are urging on NARI to intervene.
Falo
Badjie, a native of Sintet said that the villagers have encountered almost all
the symptoms that have been revealed to them when a person lacks vitamins and
nutrients in their body.
She
declared that they are all ready and excited to take part in the process in
order to better their livelihood adding that they should be provided with the
seedlings so that their health can be improved.
Similar
deliberations were held in Kalagi and Sibanor, where the members in those
communities were exposed to the benefits and effects of not consuming vitamins
and micronutrients.
