Enhancing Protein Consumption with Chickens

By Bernice Agyekwena – Communications Manager

A client receiving chickens

Last year, over 700 chickens were distributed to more than 50 clients of the Growing Healthy Food Growing Healthy Children (GHFGHC) Program while plans are underway to distribute an additional 400 chickens to more clients in March this year in a bid to address the protein needs of clients by enhancing their consumption of chicken.

Chicken is a source of complete protein and thus supplies all the nine essential amino acids that the body cannot make on its own and is very nutritious. Among other things, it helps to support muscle growth as well as brain development and function. It also improves skin and joint health (https://www.health.com/chicken-benefits-7556373)

However, access to chicken and other sources of animal protein remain a real challenge for most rural communities due to the high cost of animal products as well as the challenges that people in rural communities face when trying to raise animals on their own.

The regular absence of such sources of animal protein normally results in the consumption of meals devoid of animal protein which when prolonged can lead to protein deficiency.

A client holding her chickens

This situation is especially critical for pregnant and lactating mothers since a prolonged absence of protein in their diet can result in anemia and can have dire consequences for both mother and child.

The provision of these chickens by the GHFGHC Program in conjunction with the Agricultural and Entrepreneurial Development (AED) Program is in a bid to address the situation and avert protein deficiency amongst its clients by enabling them to have regular access to animal protein.

It is hoped that by giving clients easy access to acquire chickens and use them in food preparation, the nutritional quality of their meals will improve and they will also have access to adequate protein in their diets.