Centre Region: Plan International succours malnourished kids, pregnant women.

This was during a ceremony at the Bikok Health Centre. The items included; maize flour, peanut paste, planting seeds, palm oil, medical kits, sanitary kits and other household items.

Officials said the donation was in continuation of a work plan which the organisation launched three months ago. They stated that the support to the Bikok Health District was to enable the facility monitor malnourished children and improve on the health situation of women.

Emergency Nutritionist Specialist at Plan International, Justine Melingui, said malnutrition is not just a matter for Sahelian zones but also exists in forest zones like Bikok.

“It’s true that the malnutrition rate isn’t the same as in the Sahel, but children and pregnant women in these areas are also victims of malnutrition. They also need the kind of support provided in the Far North, Adamawa, Centre, South, and East Regions,” Melingui noted.

The nutritionist said Plan International expects the health centres will use the donations “…to support children and the malnutrition rate will decrease, as is happening today in the Far North”.

She sounded confident that through the donation, the mothers will be able to make five-star enriched porridge with maize flour, peanut paste and palm oil. Melingui noted that malnourished children and pregnant women will eat enriched porridge.

The Specialist said the supplements are intended solely for those who need them most to recover their health. She disclosed that the supplies allow children to quickly recover from a state of malnutrition.

“In some health centres, particularly in the Far North, we have noticed that when children aren't included in these programs, mothers sometimes don't bring them for other services like vaccinations. We want to ensure that doesn't happen here, which is why we included everyone in the donation,” Melingui told reporters.

Message to health workers

She advised health workers to conduct screenings to identify malnourished children. Melingui declared that when a malnourhished child is identified, health workers have to prepare the supplements and other teach their mothers how to do same at home.

“We believe that a child who consumes this five-star enriched porridge can recover, gain weight, and show improved health indicators in just five days,” the specialised declared. 

She remarked that, the supplement does not replace other regular meals. The Plan International specialist also warned that soy is no longer recommended for children. 

This, she said, is because it contains “elements that can affect hormone levels in girls, potentially leading to reproductive difficulties in adulthood”.

Council appreciates gesture 

The representative of the Mayor of Bikok Council, Aloa Pierre Claver, thanked Plan International for the gesture. Aloa Pierre said the municipality is seeing the results of its years of partnership with the organisation.

He said “they come to improve the standard of living of our population which makes us very satisfied”, adding that the people will not cease thanking Plan International for its investment to improve their health. Aloa Pierre also called for the judicious use of the items and supplements donated.

One of the mothers who benefited from the donation, Souga Beatrice, thanked the international development organisation for teaching them how to cook the nutritious dish. 

Souga also expressed gratitude for supplements given her to feed her child at home. She disclosed that, she had noticed that her feeding pattern made it difficult for her child to breastfeed well.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3709 of Friday February 20, 2026