Group lauds govt for emergency nutrition intervention

The Coordinator of the group in Kaduna, Mr Silas Ideva, said in a statement that such commitment would go a long way in tackling malnutrition currently threatening the life of children in the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the state government had earmarked N130 million in the 2017 budget for the procurement of therapeutic food and drugs for management of acute malnutrition.

Ideva said that the programme would reduce malnutrition and hunger among the poorest citizens and children in the state.

“Gov Nasir El-Rufai has demonstrated his administration’s resolve to tackle malnutrition headlong in Kaduna State through various intervention in 2016.

“We are equally happy that a budgetary provision has been made in the 2017 budget to completely address the challenge of malnutrition in the state,’’ he said.

He said that the current nutrition indices in the state indicated that 57 per cent of children under-five years are stunted, while 42 per cent suffer from acute malnutrition.

“Malnutrition poses a threat on human and capital development in Kaduna State and the country at large.

“Investing in nutrition is relevant particularly for its promising positive impact on demographic and economic development.

“This is because when children are properly nourished, they will be more productive to the state economically and other wise,’’ Ideva added.

He called on the state government to fully implement the National Strategic Plan of Action for Nutrition (NSPAN) approved by the National Council on Health in 2014.

“The NSPAN if fully implemented would reduce stunting by 20 per cent, reduce low birth weight among new-born by 15 per cent and increase exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months of infant life by 50 per cent,” the coordinator said.

Ideva described CS-SUNN as an NGO made up of organisations with shared vision to transform Nigeria into a country where every citizen has food and nutrition secured.

NAN recalls that Gov. Nasir El-Rufai had on Oct. 13 signed the 2017 budget of N214 billion into law.