More than 2000 households have received foodstuff and capacity building on sustainable nutrition services from the Emergency Food Relief Program implemented by the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN). The program aimed to combat food insecurity and improve nutrition among at-risk families in 17 local government areas in the Federal Capital Territory and Nasarawa State.
IHVN Director, Prevention, Care and Treatment, Dr. Helen Omuh revealed this at the close-out meeting of the program in Abuja, Nigeria. She added that “households were carefully selected based on vulnerability assessments designed to address the urgent hunger crisis in vulnerable communities, the project focused on children aged 0-17 years and vulnerable caregivers, ensuring that the most food-insecure households received direct support. Throughout the initiative, 5,000 households were screened, with 2,500 of the most at-risk families selected across 12 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Nasarawa and 5 LGAs in FCT.”
Dr. Omuh explained that “the program’s impact extended beyond food distribution and incorporated community awareness campaigns, distribution of Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) materials to promote sustainable nutrition practices and training with food demonstration sessions with 2,500 caregivers on meal planning, dietary diversity, and nutritious food preparation for long-term benefits to their families.
IHVN Program Manager, Dr. Victoria Igbinomwanhia, highlighted the program’s comprehensive approach. “Beyond providing immediate relief, we empowered caregivers with the knowledge to sustain healthy nutrition habits. This program was not just about food, it was about fostering resilience within these communities.”
“All food items including rice, beans, vegetables, fruits, eggs, oil, milk, and beverages were locally sourced to support the economy and maintain the highest quality for beneficiaries,” she added.
Project beneficiaries said that the project impacted the well-being of their families. Halima Sauidu from Gaibu community in Nasarawa State said, “This support has given us hope. Not only did we receive food, but we also learned how to combine these items for a balanced, healthy meal.” Another beneficiary, Stella Eden, described the impact on her children, “thanks to IHVN, my children can now be healthy and do well in school.”
The program was implemented with funding support from Gesundes Africa – Sternstunden, Germany.
