By Sola Ogundipe
FOR over 300 residents of  Anuoluwapo Community in Olambe, suburb, Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State the resolve to help one another develop through self-help projects is a binding force.

“For about two decades now, the community has been engaged in numerous projects which include conspicuous construction of drainage system, provision of community policing for effective security, installation of 50 concrete poles and a 500KVA recently donated by Ogun State government to assist the electricity company and a recent commissioning of two bore holes among others”, according to the  Chairman, Community Development Association (CDA, Mr. Olanrewaju Olowe.

Recently, to demonstrate the power of self-help and boost the educational and economic power of some of youths, the community organised its first annual Empowerment and Scholarship Project.

Healthy eating habits

As part of the education empowerment programme  themed: The Nigerian Economic Recession and People’s Survival Strategies’, a health talk titled: “Healthy Eating Habits in Recession” was presented by advocate for health and Editor In-Chief Healthstyleplus online, Mrs. Yinka Shokunbi,who gave tips on healthy nutrition habits as strategy for survival of children, pregnant and lactating mothers as well as children in a depressed economy.

Shokunbi said a healthy eating habit can effectively be cultivated by families in every community if members of the community understand the food culture in their locality, understand the types of food classes there are, and know how to combine each of these classes appropriately”.

She pointed out that exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life is the best start for every newborn.

According to her, breastmilk has been proven to contain adequate nutrients in the right proportion for every newborn while appropriate weaning into family nutritious meals for every child combined with breastmilk for two years would further enhance that the child is fortified against infectious “which can cause family income to deplete as most hospital fees are paid out of pocket”.

Urging mothers to ensure family foods are not overcooked, she said “because we do not know exactly when we will come out of the present economic challenges facing the country, mothers should be wise in preparing our locally available foods in quantity that would prevent wastages, mothers can cultivate garden farming to include vegetables and local rearing of chickens, goats, snails and fish ponds, if only to help sustain incomes”.

The Head, Insurance and Secretary Pension Board, Nigeria Shippers’ Council, Mr. Bola Ogunlolu in his presentation titled: ‘Nigeria Economic Recession, Causes and Survival Strategies noted some causes of the recession being witnessed by the country, and advised families to imbibe culture of spending on only needed items, “by avoiding unnecessary luxurious articles, and re-evaluating recurrent expenditure pattern as well as avoid unnecessary risks that could lead to job loss, ensure commitment to work”.