The Federal Government of Nigeria has declared more than 4 million children in the Northeast and Northwest regions of the country as suffering from malnutrition.
Making the declaration, FG listed several contributory factors to the widespread malnutrition. These included limited access to food, poor dietary habits and improper feeding practices.
According to the Government, these issues are exacerbated by broader economic and political challenges. As well as low health-seeking behaviors and educational levels among the population.
This was disclosed by the Director of Nutrition at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Ladidi Bako-Aiyebusi, on Wednesday in Nasarawa State.
Speaking during a five-day meeting with nutrition experts and stakeholders in Keffi Local Government Area, Bako-Aiyebusi said the situation has called for a collaborative mechanism. She said this is to devise a strategic document that outlines effective advocacy for nutrition in Nigeria
The five-day meeting in partnership with Civil Society-Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN) and other key partners involved in strategic advocacy for nutrition in the country is expected to achieve the goal of partnerships -centered approach to solving the challenges
Referring to the 2021 National Food Consumption and Micronutrient Survey report, Bako-Aiyebusi said: “The report shows that nearly 4.4 million children in the Northeast and Northwest regions are malnourished.
“The causes of this malnutrition are complex and they include inadequate access to food, poor food consumption and improper feeding. Caring practices, low economic status, and insufficient education among the populace.”
The Director added that the ongoing meeting is a crucial opportunity for stakeholders to develop a comprehensive and integrated strategic advocacy process to improve nutrition for children in these regions.
She said, “This meeting is essential for promoting every component of health through evidence-based advocacy.
“That is why the nutrition department of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, is hosting this five-day event.
“The goal is to devise a strategic document that outlines effective advocacy for nutrition in Nigeria. Taking into account Multiple Micronutrient Supplementation (MMS) and other critical nutrition components throughout the life cycle. And ensuring no one is left behind.”
Bako-Aiyebusi, however, expressed hope that the national advocacy strategy would strengthen collaboration, integration, and capacity building. As well as create an investment case for addressing nutrition in the health sector.
On his part, the Programme Officer at CS-SUNN, Kunle Ishola, commended the initiative. He, however, stressed the importance of a clear path for nutrition advocacy in Nigeria.
He said, “After years of pushing for better nutrition policies, it has become evident that the country needed a well-defined strategy for effective advocacy.
Ishola, therefore, emphasized that the purpose of the meeting is to identify the key elements that will drive successful advocacy efforts on nutrition issues in the country.
source: The Nation
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