Pulse.ng : KDSG mobilises wives of LG Chairmen, Health Secretaries to combat malnutrition

Hajiya Aisha Muhammad, the representative of the Commissioner, PBC at the workshop for spouses of LGA Chairmen and Health Secretaries on Thursday in Zaria

By Sani Idris

The Kaduna State Government on Thursday mobilised the wives of Local Government Areas (LGAs) Chairmen and Health Secretaries on the possible ways to address malnutrition emergencies.

The State’s Committee on Food and Nutrition (SCFN), domiciled at the State Planning and Budget Commission (PBC), with support from UNICEF, held the one-day advocacy and sensitisation workshop.

It was in the bid to enlist the support of the wives of the councils’ chairmen and health secretaries’ responsibilities in addressing malnutrition.

Its Commissioner, Mr Mukthar Ahmed, said at the opening of the meeting in Zaria that the workshop was necessary to bridge gaps for nutrition in the state.

Ahmed was represented by the Director, Development Aid Coordination of the Commission, Hajiya Aisha Muhammad.

He said as spouses of LGA chairmen and health secretaries, their support underscored the critical role they play in championing health and wellness initiatives within communities.

According to him, nutrition emergencies do not only threaten the well-being of the population, but also hinder the socio-economic development of the state.

Ahmed, therefore, said it was expedient for them to come together to strategize, innovate, and collaborate on effective interventions that would safeguard the health and future of the people.

He equally said that the participants would be engaged in insightful discussions, share best practices, and explore innovative solutions to address the root causes of malnutrition.

Ahmed said, “Together, we will identify opportunities for synergy and partnership, harness the collective expertise and resources at our disposal to achieve meaningful impact.”.

The commissioner urged the stakeholders to actively participate, exchange ideas, and contribute their unique perspectives to the collective efforts.

Ahmed called on them to create a healthier and a more
prosperous future for all residents of the state.

Giving an update on nutrition situation in the state, the State Nutrition Officer (SNO), Mrs Ramatu Haruna, said that malnutrition indices in the state have remained a public concern.

Haruna, represented by her assistant, Blessing Maikano, said,
“Based on the NDHS 2018 survey, 22.1 per cent of children under five years in the state are under weight.

”Also, 48.1 per cent stunting in children under five, 4.8 per cent of wasting in children under five while 27.5 per cent, 6-59 months received vitamin ‘A’.”

Giving a number of people reached with nutrition messages at Support Group Meeting in quarter 1 of 2024, she said Birnin Gwari LGA has the highest total count of 20160, followed by K/Kaduna South with 10046 and Kaduna North with 9013.

She, however, said Kagarko LGA has the lowest total count 1,030, followed by Kubau 1,888 and Zaria 3,346 that may have lower levels of activity or fewer transactions compared to others.

Haruna listed some of the challenges hindering nutritional progress in the state to include; inadequate supply of ‘Ready to use therapeutic Food (RUTF).

They also include the low number of men reached with nutrition messages despite their importance in decision making.

She equally mentioned others to be non functional LGA food and Nutrition/steering committees, non release or cash backing of stipends.

According to her, this often leads to demoralisation of the community volunteers and knowledge gap on documentation at the facility-levels identified during monitoring visits, among others.

The SNO advocated more resources and supply of more RUTFs to 117 outpatients theurapuetic programme (OTP) sites in the state and reactivation of LGA food and nutrition/steering committees.

She also called for the prompt release and cash backing of nutrition funds in the state/LGAs to improve the status of women and children in the state.

This is also to encourage the community volunteers to perform better training of health care workers on proper nutrition data documentation and management.

Also, Malam Sani Hassan, representative of Nutrition Society of Nigeria, described the workshop as key, adding, ” as mothers, the wives of the councils’ chairmen could serve as entry point of nutrition interventions.”

Hassan called for the inclusion of all the stakeholders in nutrition to continue supporting the state efforts toward curbing the scourge of malnutrition and prevent children from dying of preventable hunger.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that stakeholders in the workshop included HarvestPlus, CS-SUNN, ANRiN Project, KADENAP, among others.(NAN)