Bukola Afeni
The Civil Society Scaling up Nutrition in Nigeria(CS-SUNN) said the body will ensure that adequate domestic funding is made available to effectively deliver on nutrition outcomes in Nigeria.
While promising to engage in continuos advocacy that will improve existing nutrition structures in the country.
The Acting Executive Secretary Sunday Okoronkwo made the disclosure at the PINNS 2.0 inception meeting in Abuja.
According to him, the nutrition body will work with relevant bodies to utilize political economy to support nutrition activities in the country.
He added that the PINNS 2.0 project will ensure that data for planning and decision making is routinely available.
“The outcome of this project on nutrition outcomes will be evident for all Nigerians to see. We will contribute to human capital development especially in the life of the children.”
“We need to have functional MDAs that are functional on how to reduce malnutrition in the society.We are working towards reducing the narrative in terms of malnutrition “.
CS-SUNN Board Trustee Chairman, Dr Bamidele Omotola said there is an urgent need to improve on nutrition issues in the country.
” We want our leaders to pay more attention to nutrition. We want our health care facilities to be able to treat malnourished children. We also want more resources to be allocated to nutrition.
Speaking on the nutrition status in the country he added” right now we are witnessing some visible improvement. We are getting more actors, and response from stakeholders. Government is improving by putting in place governance structure, and policy environment”
“Some states have been able to develop their policy, strategic document, so this will form the basis of our discussion. We have also heard that some states that have put in place structures to be able to fund nutritional activities in the relevant MDAs.”
The Permanent Secretary Ministry of Planning and Budget, Kano State, Auwalu Sanda disclosed that the state have prioritised the issue of nutrition.
“The government is working seriously in term of food security. We will be able to reduce issues of malnutrition regarding to children between the age of five and below.We are fully aware that malnutrition has a multiplying effect on children at the long run.”
“Nutrition affects children’s growth both physically and mentally, so we set to have work force, on the issues of malnutrition. The government has spent a lot of money on the issue of malnutrition not only in terms of money but in terms of ending starvation in the state.”
“We are utilizing multisectoral approach to reduce high level of malnutrition in the state. We are working with the ministry of health, agriculture, and budget and national planning to reduce it to the barest minimum level”.
