By Philip Yatai
Kaduna – Kaduna State Emergency Nutrition Action Plan (KADENAP) and Civil Society Scaling-Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN), on Monday pledged to collaborate in addressing problems of malnutrition in the state.
Mrs Beatrice Aluaka,CS-SUNN Project Director said in Kaduna on Monday that the synergy was imperative in establishing a united front to achieve reasonable result in the fight against malnutrition.
Aluaka explained during an advocacy visit to the Wife of Kaduna State Governor, Hajiya Ummi El-Rufai, who is chairperson of KADENAP, that there would not be much progress if stakeholders work in isolation.
According to her, government agencies, civil society organisations, NGOs and other relevant stakeholders must collaborate to address the disturbing nutrition indices in the state.
“As a CSO, one of our goals is to ensure that every one in Nigeria is nutritious secure; we partner with governments at all levels to see how we can put nutritious food on the table of Nigerians.
“We are, therefore, willing and ready to join your forces to end malnutrition in Kaduna state.
“We may not have the money; we have the expertise and together we would turn the tide around.”
In a presentation, CS-SUNN coordinator in the state, Mr Silas Ideva, explained that several factors lead to malnutrition in children, particularly those under the age of five.
He identified some of the factors to include, inadequate intake of food, lack of dietary diversity, infectious diseases, food insecurity and poverty.
Others are inadequate child and maternal care, poor access to health services, unhealthy environment and failure of governance.
“Similarly, only 8.4 per cent of children were exclusively breast fed and only 10 per cent of children aged six to 23 months were appropriately fed in Kaduna state.
“These and many other factors were responsible for the disturbing malnutrition indices in the state, with 57 per cent of children below five years stunted and 42 per cent suffering from acute malnutrition.
“This could also be linked with the high infant mortality rate in the state, which currently stood at 103 per every 1,000 live birth.
“This, therefore, emphasised the need to join forces with all relevant stakeholders, map out strategies, pool resources and expertise together to effectively address the problem, “he said.
Ideva, however, emphasised that there was no better strategy than what was prescribed in the National Food and Nutrition Plan of Action.
According to him, the plan outlined a multi-sectoral response that draw stakeholders, line ministries, department and agencies together in providing measurable action plan to address nutrition specific and sensitive interventions.
He called on the state government to fully domesticate, disseminate and implement the plan, and ensure timely release of funds for nutrition intervention.
Ideva also urged the government to scale up community management of acute malnutrition sites in high prevalence communities.
“The government should also increase access to health care services, create awareness on appropriate diets, empower women and promote good hygiene,” CS-SUNN coordinator added.
Responding, Mrs El-Rufai directed that CS-SUNN be included as a member of KADENAP steering committee.
She described CS-SUNN as a crucial stakeholder with the needed expertise in winning the war against malnutrition.
“This partnership is what we need to achieve the desired result in our fight against malnutrition in the state.
“KADENAP, therefore looks forward to fruitful results as we all work together to address malnutrition and ensure that households have access to nutritious food, “she said.