INTERFACE BETWEEN URBAN FOOD SECURITY AND HEALTH IN BIDA, NIGERIA

Food is as old as humans and is so important to the existence and sustenance of humans and other living organisms that God created food before He created the eaters. This paper discovers the connection between urban food security and health by identifying causes of food insecurity, effects on health; and reawakening to nature using Moringa Oleifera and Chanca Piedra plants to solve the identified health challenges. 50 respondents were purposively selected within Bida Nigeria, for questionnaire administration and interview after using the two medicinal plants as nature-based solutions to food security. The research design used was worldview approach; considered suitable for situation-specific agreements in the use of cultural information, when delineating between indigenous and academic perceptions. The study revealed an improvement in users’ health after administering the herbs. 78% of respondents attested to using Moringa for nutrient deficiency cases; with 4g dose, morning and evening for three months. However, 22% of respondents claimed that it did not apply to them. The study further revealed that 50% each of respondents used Moringa and Chanca respectively at 5g dose morning and evening for twenty-four hours to relieve persistent headache. Three of the respondents had commercialised Moringa and Chanca for consumption, and in soap and pomade production. The study, therefore, offers two recommendations of active citizen participation in planting Moringa and Chanca in homes; and developing neighbourhood medicinal gardens on vacant urban spaces under community self-help projects. This will enhance food security, improve the urbanscape, and advance the public planning issue.