Husbands blamed for high rate of malnutrition in Kaduna community

Women of Gimba community in Soba Local Government Area of Kaduna State have blamed the high rate of malnutrition in their community on inadequate care from their husbands. The women said this at a town hall meeting on demand creation for nutritional and health services organized by Save the Children International (SCI). According to them, […]

Women of Gimba community in Soba Local Government Area of Kaduna State have blamed the high rate of malnutrition in their community on inadequate care from their husbands.

The women said this at a town hall meeting on demand creation for nutritional and health services organized by Save the Children International (SCI).

According to them, their husbands abandon them in pregnancy the moment they became pregnant with no support, particularly in providing adequate nutritious food needed for healthy pregnancy.

One of the women, Mrs. Fatima Sule alleged that husbands in the community are usually more concerned about marrying more wives once they have the money, while they abandon the existing family.

“The moment you tell your husband that you are pregnant, he becomes unnecessarily angry with you and frowns his face at all time to prevent you from making demands for money for food,” she said.

Another woman, who gave her name as Rahinatu said husbands should be held responsible for the disturbing number of malnourished children in the community; saying many men in the community are not responsible as they do not cater for the feeding and upkeep of their families.

Also, Malam Mohammed Hassan, a resident of the community confirmed that some men do not take proper care of their pregnant wives; even through, he blamed such act on poverty.

The women therefore called on the state government and relevant stakeholders to equip the health centre in the community with more drugs, beds and other equipment.