Malnutrition - NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA

Tosin Kolade
Feb, Thu, 2025

UNICEF hands over 4,290 cartons of nutrition supplements to Adamawa

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By Talatu Maiwada

The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has supplied over 4,290 cartons of Small Quantity Lipid-Based Nutrient Supplements (SQLNS) to the Adamawa Government to combat malnutrition and related diseases.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the supplements were funded by donors, including the UK Government, the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Through UNICEF’s Children Nutrition Fund, a 1:1 match-funding modelenables governments to double their investment in nutrition, improving malnutrition prevention, detection, and treatment.

Dr Nuzhat Rafique, Chief of Field Office, UNICEF Bauchi, presented the supplements at a handover ceremony on Thursday in Yola.

Rafique stated that the 4,290 cartons of SQLNS contained approximately 2.57 million doses, expected to benefit at least 85,000 children in the state.

NAN reports that SQLNS is a specially formulated food supplementdesigned to prevent undernutrition and support child survival, growth, and development.

It helps address stunting, wasting, and anaemia by providing essential proteins, energy, and 23 vital vitamins and minerals.

Commending the Adamawa Government for its commitment to the Child Nutrition Fund (CNF) mechanism, Rafique acknowledged the support of various donors and UNICEF’s role in managing the fund.

“You are among the first states to take advantage of this matching grant opportunity to support mothers, children, and vulnerable groups.

“Malnutrition remains a major challenge in Adamawa, and these supplements will play a crucial role in ensuring that children are not malnourished,” she said.

Rafique expressed gratitude to the state government and donors, acknowledging their contributions in reaching the most vulnerable children in Adamawa and across Nigeria.

Mr Felix Tangwami, Adamawa Commissioner for Health and Human Resources, praised UNICEF and donor partners for their commitment to tackling malnutrition.

He attributed the rise in malnutrition to insurgency and insecurity, which have greatly disrupted farming activities and reduced access to nutritious food in the state.

“Our farmers no longer have the same level of access to farmlands, which has led to a decline in the availability of quality nutritional foods.

“Despite limited resources and competing demands, the governor continues to prioritise the health sector, because a healthy society is key to a healthy future,” Tangwami said.

He assured that the supplements would be properly distributed and utilisedto reach the intended beneficiaries.

Dr Bashir Sulaiman, Executive Chairman, Adamawa Primary Healthcare Development Agency, commended the state government’s commitment and swift action in securing funding.

He revealed that the governor released ₦100 million for the matching grant for SQLNS procurement and further committed ₦300 million for the current year to sustain the fight against malnutrition.

Sulaiman called for continued collaboration with UNICEF to improve nutrition and overall health outcomes for women and children in the state. (NAN) www.nannews.ng

Edited by Benson Ezugwu/Christiana Fadare

Ismail Abdulaziz
Feb, Wed, 2025

Agriculture

WFP earmarks $2.5bn for hunger, malnutrition in Nigeria

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By Felicia Imohimi

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) says it has budgeted 2.5 billion dollars in the 2023 to-2027 Nigeria Country Strategy Plans (CSP).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that this is geared towards achieving zero hunger and improved nutrition across the country.

Mr Seriene Loum, Head of Programme, WFP said this at the Co-creation workshop organised by the organisation on Wednesday in Abuja.

The workshop is in collaboration with National Social Investment Programme Agency (N-SIPA).

Loum, who represented WFP Country Director, said WFP strategic goal was to ensure a world without hunger in line with the SDG 1 and 2 on poverty and zero hunger.

He said the organisation would work closely with member states of United Nations including Nigeria to mobilise resources to fully implement the programmes.

“WFP Nigeria CSP 2023 t0 2027 a five-year project has a dedicated activity for strengthening institutional capacities and enhanced enabling environment in line with national target to achieve zero hunger by 2030.

“The project focus on food technology, fortification of supply chain management, improving nutrition and emergency preparedness responses.

“2023 to 2027 have five pillars and each of them focus on zero hunger and improved nutrition.

“We have some interventions that focus on emergency response, making sure that people will not go to bed hungry which are lifesaving activities that aim to provide immediate food assistant to people that are in need,’’ he said.

Loum identified Nigeria as operating one of the biggest social safety nets programme in Africa.

He said it was also encouraging that Nigeria had an ambitious safety nets programme target at uplifting hundreds of millions of its populace out of poverty.

He said: “considering the current economic trend and level of vulnerabilities in Nigeria, the Cadre Harmonised (CH) result of October 2024 reveals that about 25 million Nigerians are acutely food insecure and projected to reach 33 million between June to August 2025.

“It is therefore expedient that all stakeholders, most especially WFP, need to work together with the Federal Government for this very ambitious goal to be achieved,’’ he said.

Also, Prof. Badamasi Lawal, Chief Executive Officer, NSIPA said the seminar was meant to harness collective expertise and resources to achieve meaningful impact in the lives of Nigerians.

Represented by Mrs Uche Obi, Director, Human Resources Management, he commended WFP for its commitment to supporting Nigeria’s efforts to address poverty, hunger and malnutrition.

According to her, WFP partnership is a testament to the power of international cooperation and the shared vision of creating a more equitable and prosperous society.

“The NSIP launched in 2016, elevated to a full-fledged Agency in 2023 has made significant strides in addressing poverty, inequality, and social exclusion.

“Through various programmes, including the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP), Conditional Cash Transfer Programme (NCTO), Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP), Grant for Vulnerable Groups (GVG) and N-Power, we have reached millions of Nigerians.

“We are providing them with opportunities for economic empowerment, education, and improved well-being .

“The WFP’s expertise in food security, nutrition and emergency response will be invaluable in enhancing our programmes and achieving greater impact.

“This collaboration will enable us to leverage each other’s strengths, share knowledge, and develop innovative solutions to address the complex challenges facing our nation,’’ he said.

He said WFP’s support had made it possible for the Federal Government to pull stakeholders in meaningful discussions and in shaping the future of their partnership.

“Your investment in this partnership is a testament to your commitment to Nigeria’s development and the well-being of its people,’’ he said. (NAN) www.nannews.ng

Edited by Uche Anunne

Tosin Kolade
Oct, Tue, 2024

Health

Nigeria to combat malnutrition, improve global rankings

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By Justina Auta

The Federal Government and stakeholders have strengthened coordination to address Nigeria’s status as the country with the highest number of malnourished children in Africa and the second highest globally.

This commitment was made at a three-day collaborative meeting in Abuja on Monday, with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, National Primary Health Care Agency, and state Nutrition Managers.

Mrs Ladidi Bako-Aiyegbusi, Director of the Nutrition Department, highlighted the government’s efforts to improve nutrition.

“Nigeria has the highest burden in Africa and the second highest in the world, but we are collaborating with stakeholders to change this narrative.

“The government has implemented strategies, including a coordination team that interacts with stakeholders quarterly to discuss challenges and progress.

“Additionally, the government has trained over 2,000 master trainers on maternal, infant, and young child feeding practices.

“The ministry regularly meets with stakeholders to address challenges, discuss progress, and prioritise activities to improve nutrition services.”

Nemat Hajeebhoy, UNICEF’s Chief of Nutrition, noted that Nigeria had 35-45 million children under five years old, with 12 million stunted, nine million wasted, and 24-25 million anemic.

“We must come together to address this issue, as resolving it in Nigeria will impact West Africa and the continent,” she said.

She recalled that the Vice President, Chairman of the National Council for Nutrition, was driving the agenda and building a grassroots movement to improve nutrition.

She further said that recent efforts include 43 million children receiving Vitamin A supplements, 19 million receiving deworming drugs, and over two million pregnant women receiving iron, folic acid, or multiple micronutrient tablets.

Dr Ogechi Akalonu, NPHCDA’s Deputy Director of Nutrition, emphasised the need for collective strategising to improve women and children’s nutritional status.

Dr Osita Okonkwo, Nutrition International’s Country Director, called for increased funding to support the Maternal, Newborn and Child Health campaign’s implementation nationwide.

Okonkwo, represented by Junaidu Sani, Programme Officer, Child Health and Nutrition, reiterating their commitment to support the government, called for improved funding to ensure implementation of the MNCH. (NAN) www.nannews.ng

Edited by Abiemwense Moru