Pulse.ng : Innovative solutions needed to address underlying determinants of malnutrition

Hajiya Aisha Muhammad, representative of the Chairman of the SCFN at the closing of the nutrition coordination and review meeting with the NFPs in Zaria

By Sani Idris

The Chairman of the Kaduna State Committee on Food and Nutrition (SCFN), Mr Bashir Muhammed says innovative solutions are critically needed in addressing the underlying determinants of malnutrition in the state.

Muhammed was represented by the Director, Development Aid Coordination, Kaduna State Planning and Budget Commission (PBC), Hajiya Aisha Muhammad.

He said this at the closing of a two-day nutrition coordination and quarterly review meeting with 23 LGAs Nutrition Focal Persons (NFPs) on Tuesday, in Zaria.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the SCFN, domiciled at the PBC, convened the review meeting, supported by UNICEF.

Muhammed, however, said in spite of the state’s and stakeholders’ collective efforts, the state has continued to face formidable challenges in combating malnutrition.

He said that as ways were being charted for the cause of nutrition in the state, it was incumbent on all the stakeholders to embrace a multi-sectoral approach that transcends traditional boundaries and fosters synergies across various sectors such as health, agriculture, education, and social protection.

“By leveraging our collective strengths and resources, we can address the root causes of malnutrition and create sustainable pathways to improved nutrition outcomes for all,” he said.

Muhammed stressed that the prevalence of malnutrition, particularly among children under five and pregnant women, remains unacceptably high.

He, however, said it underscored the urgency of the mission and the need for innovative solutions that would be geared towards addressing the underlying determinants of malnutrition.

Muhammed pointed out that the quarterly review and coordination meeting with the NFPs represented a pivotal moment in the state’s collective efforts to address the critical issue of nutrition across the 23 LGAs of the state.

The SCFN chairman said the coordination meeting underscored the state government’s shared commitment to improving the health and well-being of its communities through strategic collaboration and effective interventions.

“As we reflect on our progress and challenges, it is imperative that we acknowledge the significance of our roles as stewards of nutrition initiatives within our respective spheres of influence.

“Each of you, as Nutrition Focal Persons, plays a crucial role in translating policies into tangible actions at the grassroots level,”he said.

Mohammed tasked the NFPs on more dedication, adding that their tireless efforts were instrumental in ensuring that nutrition remains a priority on the development agenda of Kaduna State.

He urged them and other stakeholders to prioritise equity and inclusivity in their interventions by ensuring that the most vulnerable and marginalised populations have access to essential nutrition services.

Muhammed said that empowering women and girls, promoting breastfeeding practices, enhancing food security, and strengthening health systems were a few examples of interventions that could yield transformative results in the fight against malnutrition.

The chairman commended the unwavering commitment of development partners who remained steadfast in their support of nutrition programs in the state.

“Your expertise, resources, and technical assistance have been invaluable in strengthening our capacity to deliver high-impact interventions and scale up our efforts across the state,”he said.

He restated the Kaduna State government’s commitment to the vision of a malnutrition-free Kaduna state, where every individual has the opportunity to thrive and reach their full potential.

Giving a remark, the representative of Nutrition Society of Nigeria, Malam Sani Hassan, stressed the importance of nutrition to the prosperity of a nation.

He urged the facilitators of the coordination meeting and other stakeholders to inculcate the practice of agricultural extension such as the knowledge of bio fortification of food crops which should be transcended to the communities for home gardening and farming.

Delivering a presentation on Bio- fortification, Chioma Arum, the Commercialisation and Scaling Associate with HarvestPlus, said they were passionate about ameliorating the impact of malnutrition in Northern Nigeria.

She stated that NFPs were key in spreading the word and ensuring that households know where to get the climate-smart and nutrition enriched crops.

Arum said the NFPs needed to be knowledgeable or updated on the relevant tools to be adopted in their community engagements such as the recipe book developed by HarvestPlus to raise household nutrition awareness and uptake of nutrient-enriched crops at household and community levels.

She further emphasised the need for key government stakeholders to key into the opportunities created by HarvestPlus and ensure that those at the grassroots benefit from the interventions.

Arum urged the stakeholders in MDAs to ensure coordination such that the impact bows down through the established arms to those at the base of the pyramid including smallholder farmers and vulnerable groups in the state.

Arum restated HarvestPlus’s commitment towards scaling-up production and consumption of nutrient-enriched crops and foods through partnerships with relevant public and private sector stakeholders.

NAN reports that stakeholders in the meeting included Accelerating Nutrition Results in Nigeria (ANRIN) Project, Civil Society Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN), and Kaduna Emergency Nutrition Action Plan (KADENAP), among others.(NAN)

SA/NCI/BRM
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Edited by Nkiru Ifeajuna/Bashir Rabe Mani