Table of Contents
- Call for Salary Increase
- Importance of Proper Nutrition
- Monitoring of Snacks
- Parental Responsibility
The Federal Government has been urged to raise the salaries of civil servants in the country to enable them to provide nutritious foods for their children, particularly adolescents.
This appeal was made by Professor Juliana Uchenna Anyika-Elekhe, a Professor of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, during the 64th Inaugural Lecture at Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, MOUAU, Umudike, Abia State.
She emphasized that when workers receive adequate compensation, they can afford to provide their children with nutrition-dense foods, thereby reducing the likelihood of their children consuming nutritionally deficient meals.
“The Federal Government should increase workers' salaries so that their children can have proper nutrition because when parents have sufficient financial resources, they can supply their families with food that is not lacking in essential nutrients,” she stated.
Professor Anyika-Elekhe raised concerns that many defects observed in newborns are attributed to inadequate maternal nutrition, highlighting that these issues often begin during the mothers' adolescent years.
She called for stringent regulation and monitoring of snacks sold both on and off university campuses to protect students from consuming unhealthy foods that could jeopardize their health and that of their future children.
Additionally, she urged parents to ensure that the meals they provide for their children are rich in essential nutrients.
- Why should the government increase the salaries of civil servants?
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Increasing salaries would enable civil servants to afford nutritious foods for their children, promoting better health and development.
- What are the consequences of inadequate maternal nutrition?
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Inadequate maternal nutrition can lead to defects in newborns, which often stem from nutritional deficiencies during the mother's adolescent years.
- How can parents ensure their children receive proper nutrition?
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Parents should prioritize providing meals that are rich in essential nutrients and be vigilant about the quality of food available to their children.
