World Bank gives Bushenyi sh3b for nutrition

Oct 19, 2016

The project plans to cover 120000 households in two years

The World Bank has allocated sh3b to Bushenyi district to sensitize the masses about nutrition.

The district chairman Jaffari Basajjabalaba said the project will be implemented through primary schools where demonstration gardens are to be set up.

Basajjababalaba said it is unfortunate children are left to stunt not because of lack of food but because of the habit of loving money by the parents.

"Some parents sell off the best matooke and leave their children to feed on the ‘malnourished' matooke," Basajjabalaba said.

He was speaking at the pass out of 50 community volunteers who were trained by Community Volunteer Initiative for Development (COVOID) to promote fresh orange sweet potatoes in the sub counties of Bumbeire, Ibaare and Kyeizooba. Each volunteer was given a bicycle as a means of door to door transport.

Basajjabalaba also said parents are lacking information on how to prepare the nutritious foods.

"We have to think beyond the traditional foods," he advised.

Basajjabalaba appealed to all stakeholders to make sure that the project is a success. He cautioned the officers mandated to implement the project against misuse of the funds.

He asked the sub county chiefs to bring on board the NGOs during the process of planning so that they have an input in planning for the areas.

"Government should be the one to do what some of the NGOs are doing but there are no funds so let us work hand in hand with the NGOs since they have the capacity to fund some of the activities in communities," Bassajjabalaba appealed.

Ben Bataringaya the COVOID executive director said the project plans to cover 120000 households in two years.

"It's because of ignorance because all the energy giving foods are around them" he said.

He however said efforts must be put in place to address the issue of food security.

"Soils no longer have the capacity to support food production because they have become infertile while in some homes they have no land to enable them engage in food production" Bataringaya added.

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