The Federal government has been told to increase the salaries of civil servants in the country, to enable them provide nutrition-rich foods for their children, especially the adolescents.
This call was made by Professor Juliana Uchenna Anyika- Elekeh, a Professor of human nutrition and dietetics who delivered the 64th Inaugural Lecture of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, MOUAU, Umudike, Abia State.
She said that when workers are adequately paid, they would provide foods that are rich in nutrition dense for their children, thereby eliminating the chances of the children eating foods that are deficient in nutrition.
“The Federal government should increase the salaries of workers so that their children can feed well because when the parents have enough money, they will provide for their families, foods that are not deficient in nutrition.
She raised the alarm that many incidents of defects recorded in babies after child birth are being caused by lack of adequate nutrition in their mothers, pointing out that the problems were originally developed during the adolescent age of the mothers.
Professor called for close regulation and monitoring of snacks sold inside and outside the university environment, to protect the students from consuming unwholesome foods that may endanger their health and those of their future children.
She further urged parents to ensure that the foods they serve their children are not deficient in nutrients.
