By Mohammed Nasir Shuaibu (Bauchi State Correspondent)
The Civil Society-Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN) has raised concern over the 46 per cent stunting rate among children in Alkaleri Local Government Area of Bauchi State, describing the situation as alarming and calling for urgent investment in nutrition interventions.
Speaking during an advocacy visit to the council on Wednesday, CS-SUNN Senior Programme Officer, Kunle Ishola, said the figure indicates that nearly one out of every two children in Alkaleri suffers from stunted growth as a result of chronic malnutrition.
He urged the local government to establish dedicated budget lines for nutrition across relevant departments, ensure timely release of funds, and strengthen coordination among stakeholders to improve maternal and child nutrition.
Ishola commended the council for holding its first quarterly Local Government Committee on Food and Nutrition coordination meeting, in line with resolutions reached during the April training for nutrition stakeholders.
CS-SUNN State Chairperson, Dabis Mwalike, also called for stronger collaboration between the local government and development partners, urging the council to create a nutrition budget line and ensure prompt release and effective utilisation of funds.
Receiving the delegation on behalf of the Chairman, the Director of Administration, Umar Mohammed, pledged the council's support for nutrition programmes and assured the team of the government's commitment to achieving the project's objectives.
Meanwhile, director of the Primary Health Care Department expressed concern over the shortage of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF), disclosing that supplies received from the state government had been exhausted.
The advocacy visit ended with commitments from directors across the local government to strengthen nutrition planning and financing. NNL.
