Health
AN NGO, Civil Society Scaling Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN), has called on governments to improve provision of basic packages for nutrition services across Primary Healthcare Centres (PHC) in the country.
Mrs Beatrice Eluaka, Executive Secretary, CS-SUNN, made the appeal during a Roundtable on Micronutrient Deficiency Control on Wednesday in Lagos.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the roundtable was held in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Eluaka noted that provision of routine services in PHCs would promote distribution of micronutrient powder, iron, folic acid, vitamin A supplement for pregnant women and children.
“We call on state governments to scale-up not only the provision and distribution of these supplement to withdrawn areas and across health facilities during the maternal, newborn, child health week.
“Also, counseling to ensure compliance,” she said.
According to her, there is need for massive sensitisation, education and awareness creation to provoke behavioral changes that would promote adequate infant and young child feeding practices in the country.
She listed the services as early initiation of exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life and adequate complementary feeding.
Eluaka urged people to diversify their diet and ensure adequate nutrition by consuming a wide range of foods, including vegetables, proteins and fruits to improve their nutritional status.
She urged state governments yet to approve their State Specific Strategic plan action for nutrition to do so and also commence implementation.
“We also urge states without budget lines for nutrition to create such and ensure releases with specific funds allotted to interventions around Micronutrient powder, biofortification, iron folate supplementation and Vitamin A,” she said.
She added that low funding for nutrition had been an impediment to implementation of nutrition interventions.
“Some of these measures, if in place, will reduce the incidence of micronutrient deficiencies and contribute to improving nutrition outcome in Nigeria,” she said.
Eluaka urged the media to improve reportage on issues around micronutrient deficiencies to attract policy makers and concerned stakeholders to take action toward curbing malnutrition in the country.
Also, Mrs Modupe Akinyinka, Lagos State Coordinator of CS-SUNN, urged government to improve budgetary allocation to nutrition and timely release of funds for maternal, infant, young child feeding practices at state levels.
Commenting, Mr John Uruakpa, Deputy Director and Head, Micro nutrient Deficiencies Control, FMOH, identified essential minerals and vitamins needed for proper growth and development as vitamin A, Iodine, iron, Zinc and foliate.
Uruakpa said that the federal government had over the years made several efforts toward controlling the deficiency in the country.
He said that government strategies in response to micronutrient included food fortification, deworming, biofortification, dietary diversification and supplementation
Uruakpa said that more investment was required in the area of micronutrient deficiency control by government and collaborating partners to address the scourge.
In his contribution, Mr Adam Ukpoju, Head of Department, Nutrition, Food Safety and Crop Protection, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, emphasised the need for nutrition education.
He said that if mothers embraced good feeding practices, good personal hygiene and feed children with fortified fruits, vegetables and food, cases of stunting and malnutrition would end in Nigeria.
Mrs Lola Alonge, Executive Director, Child Health Advocacy Initiative (CHAI), said there was need to change the vicious malnutrition cycle of Nigeria to a robust and healthy nation. (NAN)
– Feb. 5, 2020 @ 18:09 GMT |
Tags: NGO urges FG to improve child nutrition in Nigeria
