Khadijah Aliyu
The approval of the N-774 nutrition program by the National Council of Nutrition has been described as a significant step towards accelerating national development and reducing malnutrition in Nigeria.
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The president Nutrition society of Nigeria Professor Wasiu Akinloye made the indication during the 54th scientific conference and annual general meeting of the nutrition society of Nigeria held in Kano
According to Professor Akinloye the federal government of Nigeria has continued to recognize and place nutrition at the forefront of agenda for accelerated national development.
He highlighted the importance of nutrition in addressing the country’s challenges, including poverty, poor economic growth, and insecurity.
The president noted that, to recover from these challenges, the federal government, development partners and civil society organizations have been urged to identify and develop innovative strategies to create a robust and agile economy for the benefit of all.
“The nutrition society of Nigeria has secured funding for the establishment of the grand challenges Nigeria project to catalyse a network of innovators that will provide innovative solutions to grand challenges in public health, food systems and climate smart agriculture”
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UNICEF Chief of Nutrition, Ms Nemat Hajeebhoy emphasized on the need to prevent malnutrition by scaling up nutrition interventions across 774 LGAs in 36 states of the federation of Nigeria.
She maintained that, global best practices requires government and relevant stakeholders to focus on the first 1000 days of a child to prevent the circle of malnutrition.
“The vice president of Nigeria is changing the narrative through concerted efforts at the LGA level as well as the ministry of budget and economic planning is playing a strong role in coordinating efforts.
In his remarks, the country director nutrition international, Dr Osita Okonkwo pointed out that, Nutrition international has been working closely with government agencies, partners and key stakeholders in Nigeria to implement lifesaving and life-enhancing nutrition interventions.
Others are delivering a maternal nutrition program including iron and folic acid supplementation, nutrition counselling and the promotion of early initiation of exclusive breastfeeding
He posited that Global Affairs Canada funded Nutrition International’s Improved Diarrhoea Treatment Outcome Project, being implemented by Forward in Action for Education, Poverty, and Malnutrition (FAcE-PaM) in Kano State
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“Improving the availability of sufficient, quality iron and folic acid for pregnant women in government health facilities”
Radio Nigeria reports that the conference themed: Navigating the nutrition frontiers” witnessed a large turnout of relevant stakeholders in the health and nutrition sector.