Collins Agwam
As part of efforts to curb child and maternal mortality, the Nasarawa State government on Friday launched a multi-sectoral action plan on food and nutrition across the 13 Local Government Areas of the state.
Governor Abdullahi Sule, while speaking at the event, which was organised by the State Ministry of Finance, Budget and Planning, explained that his administration became interested in proffering adequate solutions to the matter because the burden of malnutrition in the state was unacceptably high.
He explained that the policy on food and nutrition would serve as a guide for the identification, design and implementation of the intervention activities across the various ministries and MDAs to ensure adequate nutrition and health of residents of the state.
According to him, the ministries and MDAs will include the Ministry of Health; Ministry of Education; Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development; Ministry of Finance, Budget and Planning; Ministry of Information; and State Emergency Management Agency, among others.
He said, “As you are aware, malnutrition is critical to health as well as human development. It is imperative to improve infant and maternal health, and safer pregnancies and childbirths.
“It is for this reason that the state government will remain committed to strengthening the nutrition value chain because it plays an important role in the development of our bodies by making our immune systems stronger.”
He was optimistic that malnutrition would soon be completely eradicated in the state and commended the Global Alliance For Improved Nutrition for partnering with the government on the project.
The representative of the United Nations Children’s Fund, Jane Amwe, commended the state government for taking the initiative to tackle malnutrition in the state and assured of UNICEF’s commitment and support to actualise the project.
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