The Kwara State Government, North central Nigeria, has pledged to continue to evolve policies toward tackling malnutrition among infants across the 16 local government areas of the state.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Amina El-Imam, stated this during a meeting organised by the Accelerating Nutrition Results in Nigeria project stakeholders’ exit with Solina Health on Wednesday in Ilorin.
Represented by Hajia Afusat Ibrahim, the Permanent Secretary, Kwara Ministry of Health, the commissioner said that the challenge of malnutrition has not been fully addressed, adding that the state will not relent in its effort to tackle the menace.
El-Imam said that the initiative of the state government on child nutrition such as Kwara Baby-Friendly is yielding positive results.
According to her, nutrition programmes are a continuous process, describing it as “labour of love, dedicated to addressing problems of
vulnerable population.
“Over the past four years, we have witnessed a remarkable transformation.
“Our children have received several doses of vitamin A, Zinc, ORS, deworming drugs, and doses of micronutrient powder, all of which make the younger ones grow stronger, healthier, and more energetic.
“Pregnant women have gained vital knowledge and resources to ensure that their babies are given the best possible start in life.”
She reiterated the state government’s commitment to improving nutrition knowledge, enhancing access to essential foods, and ultimately
foster healthier generations.
The Solina Health Programme Director, Dr. Daniel Abraham, said the organisation recorded some successes over the years in child nutrition in the state.
He explained that the lessons learned were documented, which will ultimately contribute to the project’s success in the state.
Abraham pointed out that nutrition is central to good health and that once nutrition is lost, everything is lost.
He explained that democratically-elected local government council chairmen and councillors now have the freedom to function, following the
Supreme Court judgment to accord autonomy to the third tier of government.
“With that autonomy, the councils now have a lot to do on the issue of children’s nutrition in the state.”
The programme director commended the Kwara Government, key community stakeholders, and traditional and religious leaders for their
support to the organisation toward implementing its programmes.
In his submission, Dr. Habeeb Lawal, the ANRiN State Project Coordinator, emphasised the need for sustained activities to promote healthy nutrition for children and
pregnant women.
While pointing out the importance of funding for the activities, Lawal stated that “more funding from partners and government is needed,
while local governments also play their role to support child nutrition.”
NAN
