The federal government has expressed concern over the situation of the malnourished 4.4 million children in northern parts of Nigeria.
Mrs Ladidi Bako-Aiyebusi, director nutrition department of the federal ministry of health revealed this during an advocacy meeting with nutrition experts and stakeholders in Keffi, Nasarawa State.
She stated that Nigeria is facing a multi burden of malnutrition, according to her, the 2021 national food consumption and micronutrient survey report showed that over a sum of 4.4 million children from both the north west and north east suffered severe malnutrition.
Undernutrition and overnutrition, which have a major impact on health and socioeconomic development, are evidence examples of macro and micronutrient deficiencies, in her opinion.
She pointed out reasons of malnutrition which includes inadequate access to food, poor food consumption, improper feeding and caring practices, economic and political structures, low economic status, inadequate health seeking behaviours and low level of education among the residents.
However, the director of nutrition made the assertion that advocacy has been shown to be effective all over the world in advancing the interests of people or circumstances, particularly when it is supported by evidence. As a result, nutrition, like all other aspects of health, must be promoted through evidence-based advocacy.
“It is believed that the National Advocacy Strategic approach will enhance collaboration, integration, capacity strengthening as well as develop an investment case for addressing nutrition in the Health Sector,” she added.
In an interview, Mr. Kunle Ishola, Program Officer at CS-SUNN, gave accolades to the ministry for it’s initiative and stated that advocacy engagement cannot be successful unless certain procedures are taken; for this reason, CS-SUNN is providing technical and financial support for the stakeholders meeting.
He made clarifications that the goal of CS-SUNN’s assistance is to assist participants to create a persuasive nutrition advocacy paper that will change the perception of nutrition in Nigeria.
“If there is a way for it to go and it doesn’t go that way, don’t expect to see results.
“So having pushed issues of nutrition for years, we just felt that there is a need to channel a clear path for nutrition advocacy in the country.
“The essence of the meeting is to come up with elements that makes effective advocacy on nutrition issues,” he said.
In addition to addressing the problems of undernutrition in rural areas and overnutrition in urban areas, he also said the plan document will include innovative approaches.
