By Ankeli Emmanuel (In Sokoto State)
Expressing worries over the negative consequences of malnutrition in Nigeria, Dr Goodness Chidi Anyanwu, has said malnourished women are more likely to give birth to malnourished children.
Dr Anyanwu who is the Programme Manager, Civil Society Scale Up Nutrition In Nigeria (CS-SUNN) spoke in Sokoto State at a one day media round table on "Increased Investment In Nutrition To Scale Up Quality Nutrition Services In the State"
While noting that, the vision of CS-SUNN is centered on food security for all, Dr Anyanwu stressed that nutrition is pivotal to human capital development, and appealed to the Sokoto state government to approve multi sectoral plans for food and nutrition.
"Malnutrition has an over bearing influence on the growth, development and productivity of every individual and nation".
Continuing, Dr Anyanwu said, "'Malnutrition is the major cause of death, stunting growth, poor brain and cognitive development, poor school performance as well as lowered productivity in adulthood".
On his part, Mr Buhari Umar, the Director Budget, Sokoto State Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, hinted that aside making provision of 500 million naira in the 2024 budget for the procurement of '"Ready To Use Therapeutic Food", the state has also made provisions for agricultural and other poverty related interventions running into billions of naira.
Buhari who spoke extensively, delivered a paper on, "Nutrition Status in Sokoto State" assured that they are not only making conscious efforts to improve on budgetary allocation to nutrition but also achieve the SDGs, SDP and 9points agenda of the Ahmed Aliyu led government hence linking their plans and budgets to the communities.
Speaking on his part, the Representative of North West Steering Committee if CS-SUNN, Mr Silas Ideva, said CS-SUNN is concerned with the development, economic prosperity, and the overall well-being of the Nigerian populace.
"With malnutrition affecting at least one in three people in the world today and Nigeria, unfortunately, holding the second-highest number of stunted children worldwide, CS-SUNN’s mission gains even greater significance-the commitment to addressing malnutrition which has become a persistent public health concern in Nigeria".
Mr Silas gave the percentage of households in the Sokoto State experiencing food insecurity to be 22.4%, early breastfeeding within 24 hours at 15.3% and Exclusive breastfeeding among women to be 59.6% with 39.4% having Stunted growth 17.9% Wasting and 21.19% Underweight.
Earlier in his opening remarks, the Sokoto State Coordinator of CS-SUNN, Malam Rabiu Gandi, said the mission of CS-SUNN as established in Nigeria by seven organizations in 2013/2014 was to ensure that every citizen not only have food but also nutrition secured. NNL.
