Nutrition committee strengthens coordination to address malnutrition in children, adults

The Kaduna State Committee on Food and Nutrition says it is strengthening
the coordination of nutrition interventions to address malnutrition among women, children and adolescents.

The Chairman of the committee, Malam Bashir Muhammad, gave the assurance in Kaduna on Wednesday at a two-day quarterly review meeting of the SCFN.

The review of the 4^th quarter of 2022 and 1^st quarter of 2023 was organised by the Planning and Budget Commission, with support from the United Nations Children’s Fund.

Muhammad, who is also the Permanent Secretary, PBC, said the state government was impressed with the achievements of the committee in the fight against malnutrition in spite of challenges.

He thanked development partners for supporting the state to improve nutrition indices among women, children and adolescents.

According to him, strengthening the coordination of nutrition activities will ensure continuity and sustainability of the committees’ activities.

The Project Manager, World Bank-supported Accelerating Nutrition Result in Nigeria, Dr. Zainab Muhammad-Idris, also commended the committee for changing the malnutrition narratives in the state.

Muhammad-Idris said consistent review meetings of the committee provided the platform to share ideas, experiences and achievements, and to develop strategies to move the nutrition agenda.

She reiterated ANRiN’s continued support to quality, cost-effective nutrition services for pregnant and lactating women, adolescent girls, and
children under the age of five.

“We will continue to work with partners to win the war against malnutrition,” Dr. Muhammad-Idris added.

Also, the Alive and Thrive Zonal Coordinator for Kaduna and Bauchi states, Mrs. Sarah Kwasu, said regular review of meetings was critical to building on the progress recorded.

She urged members of the committee from the various nutrition-line ministries, departments and agencies to intensify efforts toward implementing planned nutrition activities in line with the State Multi-Sectoral Strategic Plan of Action on Nutrition.

Earlier, the Director, Development Aid Coordination, PBC, Mrs. Linda Yakubu, said that the major objective of the review meeting was to collate
updates on nutrition interventions from implementing MDAs.

Yakubu noted that the meeting was also to build the capacity of Nutrition Desk Officers in MDAs on optimal nutrition modelling and to introduce participants to bio-fortification recipes.

“We will also deliberate and come up with key messages for the proposed nutrition billboard as outlined in the KDMSPAN,” she said.

(NAN)