The Civil Society Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN) a non-governmental organisation (NGO), Friday, urged the Nasarawa state government to ensure timely releases of funds to enable effective implementation of nutrition programmes in the state.
This was disclosed in a statement signed by the executive secretary CS-SUNN, Beatrice Eluaka, issued at the end of a one day media roundtable on micro-nutrient deficiency control in collaboration with the federal ministry of health and the federal ministry of agriculture and rural development in Lafia, the Nasarawa state capital.
The statement called on the state government to scale-up not only the provision and distribution of supplements to hard-to-reach areas and across health facilities during the MNCH week but also counselling to ensure compliance.
“Additionally, provision of routine services in primary health care centers will promote distribution of Micro-nutrient powder, iron/folic acid supplements and Zinc including vitamin A supplementation for pregnant women and children respectively.
“We urge Nasarawa residents and Nigerians to diversify their diet and to ensure adequate nutrition by consuming a wide range foods, including vegetables, plant and animal protein foods and fruits to improve their nutritional status,” she said.
She said the burden of malnutrition has remained a great source of concern globally, particularly in developing countries, including Nigeria.
She added, “Micro-nutrient Deficiencies, arising from a lack of essential vitamins and minerals in the diet, pose a major threat to the health and development of populations the world over, particularly children and pregnant women in low income countries.
“About two billion people all over the world are affected by Micro-nutrient deficiencies and Nigeria has an alarming prevalence that has persisted over decades,”
She said CS-SUNN remained committed to advancing Nigeria’s micro-nutrient deficiency control and food fortification agenda for improved nutritional status of women, children and vulnerable groups in the country.
Eluaka appealed to the media “to step-up reportage on factual issues around micronutrient deficiencies to attract policy makers and concerned stakeholders to take the right steps towards curbing malnutrition in Nigeria.”
