By Ahmed Rufa’i, Dutse

The Nutrition Commodities and Logistics Management System desk officer in the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Mr. Samari Godwin Bawa has reported that Nigeria records no fewer than 2.5 million cases of severe malnutrition among children annually.

He made the disclosure while addressing questions during a two-day training for Nutrition Programme Officers on logistics for nutrition commodities, held at the Tahir Guest Palace in Dutse, Jigawa State.

Bawa explained that the federal government is concerned about the high number of severely malnourished children and is implementing programs to integrate nutrition initiatives into the Nigerian Health Logistics Management Information System (NHLMIS).

“Nigeria has the second highest rate of severe malnutrition in the world, following India, and the situation is worsening despite the efforts of the Nigerian government, partners, and donor agencies,” he stated.

He added that the nutrition program would be included in the NHLMIS alongside other health initiatives like malaria, HIV, TB, and maternal and child health.

The Federal Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Jigawa State government and supported by Nutrition International, is working to address challenges related to stockouts of nutrition commodities in health facilities across the state.

“We are onboarding nutrition into the system to ensure visibility of commodities for federal, state, and local governments, similar to other public health programs,” Bawa noted.

The training aims to enhance the capacity of logistics managers handling nutrition commodities, helping them effectively use the NHLMIS platform for accountability.

Mrs. Ayodele Gbemileke, a senior program officer at Nutrition International, commended the efforts of the federal and state governments. She emphasized that this initiative will improve accountability and reduce stockouts of nutrition commodities.

Nutrition International has supported the training of about 40 nutrition logistics managers from Jigawa State on the NHLMIS platform. Gbemileke urged participants to apply their newly acquired skills and train other nutrition officers to help save millions of children from the risk of stunting.

Additionally,, a Jigawa State nutrition officer, Malam Muhammad Abdullahi stated that the state government, in partnership with UNICEF, has procured N500 million worth of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) for distribution to all malnutrition treatment centers across the state.

By Ahmed Rufa’i, Dutse

The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, in partnership with Nutrition International, has successfully trained over 40 Nutrition Programme Officers in Jigawa State.
The capacity building which is on the logistics of nutrition commodities and their integration into the Nigerian Health Logistics Management Information System (NHMIS).

Held at Tashir Gust Palace in Dutse, the two-day training aimed to address the pressing issue of malnutrition in Nigeria, where approximately 2.5 million children are reported to suffer from severe malnutrition annually.
The desk officer for Nutrition Commodities and Logistics Management, Mr. Samari Godwin Bawa, emphasized the need for effective data management to guide interventions at all levels of government.

Bawa highlighted that Nigeria has one of the highest rates of malnutrition globally, second only to India.
He underscored the importance of onboarding nutrition programs into the NHMIS to enhance visibility and accountability in managing nutrition commodities alongside other public health programs.

A senior programme officer at Nutrition International, Mrs. Ayodele Gbemileke, praised the collaboration between federal and state governments, asserting that it would help reduce stockouts of nutrition supplies.
She urged participants to apply their training and share their knowledge with colleagues to better combat child malnutrition.

Additionally, Malam Muhammad Abdullahi, a Jigawa state nutrition officer, announced that the state government, in collaboration with UNICEF, has invested N500 million in Ready to Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) to support treatment centers across the state.

***decries 262,000 annual deaths of babies, 50,000 mortality rate

The Nigeria Association of small and medium scale enterprises (NASME) has raised concern over the recent mind boggling data that showed that 100 million Nigerians are faced with food insecurity, with a significant gap in nutrition affecting 7.3 million women.
This was as Stakeholders who gathered on Thursday in Abuja at the 2024 Enterprise Support Organisation (ESOs) for Nutrition also expressed similar fear over its ripple effect on mothers and their babies.

Speaking as one of the panelists to discuss the issue the chairman of the Plateau State chapter of NASME Olu Awolowo said the bigger challenge is the ripple effect from the crisis that included, over 24,000 daily births being threatened due to undernourished mothers, 46 million women of childbearing age at risk and 262,000 annual deaths of babies as well as 50,000 annual deaths of women.

“Undernourished mothers are more likely to experience poor pregnancy outcomes, including low birth weight, birth defects, and other complications.
“This crisis demands immediate attention and action to address the nutritional needs of vulnerable populations, particularly women and children.

The situation he said highlights the need for sustainable solutions to ensure food security and nutrition for all Nigerians, particularly the most vulnerable groups.
Representative of the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) Dr. Michael Ojo, said the crucial gathering is dedicated to exploring and improving the role of Enterprise Support Organisations (ESOs) in transforming our food systems.
He indicated that the ESOs for Nutrition have provided a platform for engaging critical stakeholders across and beyond the nutritious food supply chain in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Continuing he said the objective is to empower ESOs to effectively integrate nutrition-focused strategies into their support for SMEs, thereby increasing the availability, affordability, and desirability of safe and nutritious foods in underserved markets.

Dr. Ojo underscored the essential contributions of ESOs in addressing the complexities of Nigeria’s food systems, which are increasingly under pressure from factors such as climate change, economic instability, and rapid population growth.

“ESOs are the bridge that connects nutritious food MSMEs with the resources, knowledge, and networks they need to grow and scale,” Dr. Ojo stated. He highlighted that these organizations are vital in building the capacity of MSMEs through training, improving operational efficiency, and fostering innovation.

The GAIN representative also pointed out that many MSMEs struggle to access finance and new markets, areas where ESOs have made significant strides by linking these enterprises with investors and helping them navigate market entry complexities.

“By 2050, Nigeria’s population is expected to double, increasing the demand for food. ESOs will be critical in supporting MSMEs to adopt new technologies and innovative practices to meet this demand,” Dr. Ojo explained.

Beyond economic growth, Dr. Ojo emphasized that the work of ESOs is also instrumental in improving nutrition and ensuring food security across Nigeria.
He noted that ESOs help increase the availability and affordability of nutritious foods, particularly in underserved markets, thereby contributing to a more resilient and equitable food system.

Dr. Ojo called for greater collaboration among governments, development partners, the private sector, and civil society to bolster the impact of ESOs in transforming food systems. He stressed that collective efforts are necessary to ensure that Nigeria’s food systems are sustainable, inclusive, and capable of providing healthier diets for all.

“As GAIN strives to enhance access to nutritious food for 1.5 billion people globally by 2027, the role of ESOs in Nigeria’s food system transformation remains a cornerstone of this ambitious goal.