FG reiterates its commitment to sustainable nutrition activities
The Federal Government reiterated its commitment to promoting sustainable nutrition practices in the country.
The Chief of Staff to the President in the Office of the Vice President, Senator Ibrahim Hadeziah, stated this at a press conference held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Monday.
The briefing centered around a high-level dialogue among faith leaders on nutrition in Nigeria scheduled for Tuesday, April 23.
Hadeziah said Vice President Kassim Shettima, who is the chairperson of the National Nutrition Council, is keen to advance efforts to promote sustainable nutrition in the country.
“Therefore, the upcoming high-level dialogue between the National Nutrition Council and religious leaders is a platform for strategic discussions and efforts towards investing in sustainable nutrition for the benefit of all Nigerians. will be provided.
“This event brings together members of the National Nutrition Council, governors, ministers, development partners, and the highest faith and traditional institutions to establish effective and sustainable partnerships in nutrition advocacy and implementation.
“This will be an important opportunity to align our efforts with the national agenda and the vision set forth by the New Hope Agenda under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu,” Hadejia said.
According to him, combating malnutrition is not something that governments and organizations should do alone, but rather a collective responsibility that requires the active participation of all strata of society. GTCO falls 27% in rapid decline
Also, the National Project Manager of Accelerating Nutrition Results in Nigeria (ANRIN) Project, Dr. Ojuolape Solanke, said nutrition is a priority of President Tinubu’s administration knowing how it is linked to growth, development and economic prosperity. He said that this is one of the matters.
He said: “According to statistics available in Nigeria, approximately 37 per cent of children in Nigeria suffer from a form of chronic malnutrition, typified by stenting rates and micronutrient deficiencies.
“This is related to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of any country. Nigeria lost nearly 11 percent of its GDP due to this severe malnutrition.
“And it specifically states that the first 1,000 days of any child are critical.
“And if we miss this opportunity to reach vulnerable children who need this intervention, we will end up being malnourished.”
Dr. Zainab Muhammad Idris, Project Coordinator of ANRIN in Kaduna State, said faith activists have a role to play in ensuring that the right message reaches believers especially at the grassroots.
“That’s why we work closely with our out-of-state stakeholders to ensure that the preaching of our state’s faith leaders reaches the people they serve.
“And they used scripture in particular to ensure that the right messages led to informed choices and decisions that improved maternal and child nutrition practices across the country,” she said.
