There is little doubt that the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is affecting every aspect of our lives—from virtual classrooms to domestic violence, outright quarantines, etc. Observing public health measures and reducing exposure to the virus are required to slow the spread of this disease. No one knows how long these virus safety measures will need to stay in place, but it presents a perfect time to protect and improve your health while practicing social distancing. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) a global pandemic, hence, it has become pertinent that new strategies and coping mechanisms evolve to address the drastic change at all levels.
Against this back, Ovie Brume Foundation in partnership with Youth Empowerment Foundation and Aliko Dangote Foundation held a webinar titled “Building Immunity through Nutrition as a strategy to combat the COVID-19 pandemic’ on 6th May 2020. The session was moderated by Adeola Awogbemi, Executive Director, Ovie Brume Foundation, and the speakers were Dr. Francis Aminu, Director of Health & Nutrition, Aliko Dangote Foundation, and Iwalola Akin-Jimoh, Executive Secretary, Youth Empowerment Foundation who are Nutrition Specialists. 96 people participated in the virtual class. Adeola Awogbemi welcomed participants and shared the objective of the webinar. This was followed by the introduction of the first speaker, Dr. Francis Aminu.
Dr. Aminu’s presentation focused and explored how nutrition can contribute to flattening the curve on COVID-19, the role and food sources of nutrients in boosting the immune system, safeguarding the health and nutrition security of the population and sustainable ways of maintaining continuity of ongoing nutrition programming and actions across sectors. While Mrs. Iwalola Akin-Jimoh’s presentation focused more specifically on what we need to do at the household level to strengthen immunity and promote positive nutrition actions and how to specifically use Nutrition to treat mild symptoms of COVID 19.
Key Highlights of Dr. Francis Aminu’s Presentation..
