The Kaduna State Government says it is targeting zero malnutrition through stronger grassroots mobilisation, community ownership and increased investment in nutrition interventions.
The Commissioner, Kaduna State Planning and Budget Commission, Mr Mukhtar Ahmed made the disclosure in Kaduna at a high-level stakeholders’ engagement on strengthening grassroots nutrition interventions with the wife of the state Governor, Hajiya Hafsat Uba Sani.
The meeting brought together all the spouses of the 23 local government area chairmen of Kaduna State.
It focused on strengthening grassroots nutrition interventions and enhancing women’s leadership in improving nutrition outcomes across the state.
Ahmed said nutrition was fundamentally about the future of Kaduna, as proper feeding and care influenced children’s survival, productivity and community development.
He explained that the state government had continued to strengthen nutrition through policy, planning, financing, service delivery and collaboration with development partners.
According to him, successful nutrition interventions ultimately depend on activities at the grassroots, where families make decisions about food, childcare and healthcare.
Ahmed urged the spouses of the LGA chairmen to promote exclusive breastfeeding, appropriate complementary feeding, maternal nutrition and early identification of malnutrition.
The Kaduna State Head of Service, Mrs Jummai Bako, said the repeated engagements on nutrition demonstrated the importance attached to the issue by the state government.
Bako urged the spouses of LGA chairmen to involve women councillors’ wives in nutrition advocacy because of their proximity to communities.
Mr Jessy David, Chairman, Kaduna State House of Assembly Committee on Food and Nutrition Security, said nutrition was fundamental to the growth and development of society.
David said the committee would continue to support legislation aimed at combating malnutrition and improving the wellbeing of women and children.
He urged participants to ensure nutrition interventions were taken from the state level to LGAs, wards and communities for effective grassroots participation.
The UNICEF Chief of Field Office in Kaduna, Dr Gerida Birukila, said UNICEF remained committed to supporting government efforts to provide equitable access to quality nutrition services.
Birukila, represented by Chinwe Ezeife, Nutrition Specialist, UNICEF Kaduna Field Office, said the meeting was important because engaging communities directly would help improve nutrition outcomes for children and women across Kaduna State.
Ramatu Haruna, Director of Nutrition Services, Kaduna State Primary Health Care Board, said the state had recorded progress in treating children suffering from severe acute malnutrition.
