Nasarawa State Government has promised to establish Nutrition Department in all ministries, departments and agencies in the state in a bid to curb the high rate of malnutrition among children.
The State Head of Civil Service Mrs Abigail Waya made the promise during an advocacy meeting on the creation of Nutrition Department in MDAs in Lafia the state capital on Tuesday.
The meeting which was organised by Civil Society Scaling-Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN), in collaboration with Nasarawa State Ministry of Finance, Budget and Planning, witnessed the attendance by permanent secretaries of the line ministries and other stakeholders.
The line ministries include Ministry of Finance, Budget and Planning, Ministry of Health, Agriculture, Science and Tech, Information and Culture, Education, Women Affairs, Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Water Resources and Environment.
She said her office would work in collaboration with the Civil Service Commission towards realisation of the project as well as in ensuring right people are being placed in the departments for effective service delivery.
She also pledged to ensure the approval for the six months maternity leave for nursing mothers once the national council on establishment effect such changes.
On the budget allocation for nutrition purpose, she said when the departments are established, all other things will follow.
Earlier, Dr Goodness – Chidi Anyanwu, SC- SUNN Programme Manager, said the body is in the state to advocate for the creation of nutrition department and to seek approval of six months maternity leave for women.
She said CS-SUNN also sought for creation of budget line for nutrition activities in the National Multisectoral Plan of Action for Food and Nutrition, increase allocation, timely releases and effective utilisation of fund for nutrition.
She noted that statistics shown no improvement because of lack of specific dedicated funding for nutrition and the inability of the appropriate institutions to track nutrition funding.
In a welcome address, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Finance in the state, Mr Emmanuel Alidzi, who double as the chairman of State Committee on Food and Nutrition, said the state government through the ministry is partnering CS-SUNN to raise awareness on nutritional values.
Also speaking at the occasion, Chairman Nasarawa State Committee on Nutrition Mr. Emmanuel Alidzi while addressing the gathering said cases of malnutrition in the state had continued to be on the rise which according him, needed proactive approach to stem the tide.
He called on the stakeholders to step up awareness campaigns to the grassroot on the need for people to adopt new lifestyle towards consumption of the appreciate classes of food.