The Kaduna State government is conducting a mapping of locally available nutritious food items across the state to prevent malnutrition among women, adolescents and children.

The state nutrition officer, Ramatu Haruna, disclosed this in Zaria on Saturday at the sideline of a second-quarter coordination and review meeting with local government nutrition focal persons.

The meeting was organised by the Planning and Budget Commission with support from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

Ms Haruna told journalists that the State Primary Health Care Board was conducting the mapping across the state to generate holistic information on the available local sources of food in each LGA.

She said the exercise would also determine how to prepare and incorporate the food items into the meals of children and their mothers to improve their nutrition status.

She added that the exercise, supported by the Saving One Million Lives Project, was to promote the consumption of locally available nutritious food items by households to prevent malnutrition.

“We are hoping that the mapping will provide the needed information on the available food items rich with nutrients and vitamins.

“If promoted, this will enrich the nutritious status of households, thereby preventing malnutrition.”

The nutrition officer added that as part of preventive interventions, 215,785 people had been reached with key nutrition messages during support group meetings.

She said that out of the figure, 51,480 were pregnant women, 47,083 were mothers of children less than six months, and 41,454 were women with children six to 23 months.

She said others were 38,361 women of childbearing age, 29,996 grandmothers and 18,058 men.

Earlier, Linda Yakubu, director, Development Aid Coordination, Planning and Budget Commission, said the objective of the meeting was to review the implementation of second quarter planned nutrition activities.

(NAN)