Poultry association marks Plateau Egg Day

Speaking at the event, Chairman of PAN in Plateau State, Julius Gusan, said that Plateau Egg Day is an important event during which the association, among others, puts smiles on the faces of school children and the needy in the society. He said: “Human life cannot be sustained without the three major components of food; […]

Speaking at the event, Chairman of PAN in Plateau State, Julius Gusan, said that Plateau Egg Day is an important event during which the association, among others, puts smiles on the faces of school children and the needy in the society.
He said: “Human life cannot be sustained without the three major components of food; carbohydrates, fats and proteins. Eggs are key into one of them, ‘protein’. We therefore use the occasion to educate people on the importance of eggs in their diets.”
Gusan also said: “We advocate one egg per person a day because proteins are building blocks of the body for growth and for tissue repairs. Eggs are regarded as a complete source of protein as they contain all the eight essential amino acids. Eggs supply vitamins A, B, D, E, K and most of the very important minerals like phosphorus, calcium and magnesium among others.”   
Gusan added that very few foods offer the same diverse nutrients that make up and are available in a single egg. “Many of these nutrients are specifically needed for the health of the nerves and the brain thus making eggs a super food for children. Nursing mothers are encouraged to eat egg so that their babies can benefit from the good things in eggs early enough. This is carried through by providing the children with an egg a day at home or in schools,” he also said.   
He called on the Plateau State Government to implement one egg per child a day in all public and private schools across the state, adding, “in view of this, we ask the state government to implement an egg per child a day in all public and private schools.”
The state Commissioner of Agriculture, Steven Barko, said that eggs are not for children alone, as they are also good for adults because an egg will keep you away from hospital because the cholesterol in egg is not harmful, adding that some people are using eggs to control weight.
Represented by Dr Doris Bitrus, the commissioner advised stakeholders to summon a conference that will provide a platform for a roundtable to brainstorm and come up with a project of awareness on the importance of egg to the adult so that the fear for high cholesterol can be addressed.  
On his part, the state Commissioner of Education, Nanle Dashe, appreciated the gesture and thanked PAN for being a partner to the education ministry.
He said,”Eggs means a lot to the children we train; this kind of awareness is timely because it will wipe out cultural prejudices. In the past, in some cultures, you don’t give a child an egg, it’s a taboo. So we are grateful to modernity and science that today our children are free from those uncivilized practices.
“We in the education ministry will carry your campaign of one egg one child per day to our schools, to principals. What you are into is a profitable venture but we are discussing how to fashion out ways to collaborate with PAN so as to have a subsidised rate before the introduction of eggs as part of our daily meals in schools,” the commissioner said.