Dr Nonye Soludo, the wife of Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has distributed more than 27,000 cartons of multivitamin supplements to over 26,000 old people in the 326 areas across the state.
The old people, including those in their eighties and those over 50, also got tips for healthy living and bags of rice at the event, which happened at the headquarters of Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board conference hall in Awka, on Friday.
While speaking about the tips for healthy living, which were part of the celebration of International Women’s Day, Soludo emphasized that multivitamins were created to address poor eating habits by providing vitamins and minerals the body needs to be healthy.
She mentioned that the gesture was a part of her “Healthy Living Initiative,” which aims to make Anambra a pleasant and prosperous place to live for both young and old people.
She stated, “With this, we are gradually addressing poor eating habits in Anambra State. Getting old is a blessing. It’s a phase of life that we will all reach. It’s just a matter of time. So, we need to plan and prepare to better take care of the elderly in our society to enhance their lives.
“Many elderly people are lonely, unhealthy and not well-groomed, which is why ‘Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo’ is prioritizing care for the elderly as part of its programs.
“These multivitamin supplements will help improve the quality of life of the elderly in our communities so that they can age gracefully and successfully.
“Multivitamins are intended to fill gaps in your diet. They are food supplements that combine different vitamins and minerals. They aim to fill nutritional gaps in the diet and are commonly taken in the form of pills, tablets, capsules, or liquids.
“Multivitamins aim to prevent or correct micronutrient deficiencies or to support the proper intake of nutrients when the diet alone is not enough to provide them.”
The governor’s wife also mentioned that the “Healthy Living Initiative” was introduced in the state to take care of and support the elderly and needy people, regardless of their political affiliation.
Earlier, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Afam Obidike, who expressed gratitude to the first lady for her kindness, said, “We made provisions for 80 elderly persons in each of the 326 wards and our councillors will help to distribute the multivitamin supplements at their various wards.
“The multivitamin supplements are essential nutrients that they need for their body and brain to function well.
“This is part of the ‘Healthy Living’ campaign that our society should not abandon the elderly because they are still very relevant.”
The Anambra State Commissioner for Special Duties, Beverly Ikpeazu-Nkemdiche, also expressed appreciation to the governor’s wife for her kind gesture and urged the councillors to efficiently distribute the multivitamins to the elderly in their wards.
The councillors from the various wards received the cartons of supplements for onward distribution to the elderly people in their communities.
Some of the recipients, who talked to reporters, said the action is still ongoing and urged future governments to continue the successful projects of the current administration.