NGGA Urges Local Foods Consumption

The Nigerian Girl Guides Association has called for the consumption of local foods to reduce the high rate of deaths, especially maternal and child mortality in the country.

The Enugu State Commissioner of the association, Miss Ngozi  Ochin, made the call in Enugu as part of the World Thinking Day celebrations.

Ochin lamented that canned, ready-made foods were gradually taking over from local delicacies, noting that the local foods contained rich nutrients that could fight certain deadly diseases.

She said the theme for the day entitled ‘to reduce child mortality and increase maternal health care’ was selected to celebrate the birthday of their leader Lord Baden Powell.

“What we want to do is to encourage people to eat local foods so that it will reduce them from having these diseases that attack them if they eat refined foods.

“What we intend to achieve is to tell people the importance of medical test so that they can be testing themselves, people should be aware of this and visit their doctors.’’

The State Adviser of the association, Mrs. Adaora Ozobu, said the association embarked on free medical care to commemorate the day, adding that more than 50 persons would be tested of blood sugar, blood pressure and hemoglobin estimation.

She appealed to the government at all levels to build hospitals in the rural areas to reduce the mortality rate in the country.

Some beneficiaries of the free health care services, who spoke with newsmen commended the association for embarking on the programme.

One of them, Mr. Emmanuel Chijioke, called on the people to always visit experts for any health challenges, noting that quacks had caused more harm than good.

“I so much thank them because they are doing the right thing. They are not charging anything from somebody, only you to take care of yourself because health is wealth.’’