BY ABDULLAHI YAKUBU, Kano
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), yesterday, counseled the Kaduna State authorities for bettering indices of malnutrition amongst youngsters below 5 years within the state.
Dr Zakari Adam, chief discipline officer, UNICEF, Kaduna, made the commendation at a one-day Policy Dialogue on State Nutrition Policy, organised by the Planning and Budget Commission (PBC).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) studies that the coverage dialogue had the theme, “Emerging Opportunities and Innovative Financing Options for Nutrition Interventions.”
Adam, who was represented by the Nutrition Specialist, Mrs Chinwe Ezeife, identified that the federal government had been working arduous to enhance diet indices amongst youngsters within the state.
“For occasion, stunting, has barely dropped from 56.6 per cent to 48.1 per cent between 2013 and 2018, in response to the National Demographic and Health Survey.
“Low start weight additionally dropped from 36.1 per cent to 17.2 per cent; losing from 41.7 per cent to 4.8 per cent and underweight from 57.6 per cent to 22.1 per cent.
“However, this nonetheless implies that 4 out of each 10 youngsters from zero to 69 months within the state are stunted.
“The coverage dialogue will, due to this fact, present avenues for stakeholders to place heads collectively and give you initiatives to cut back and enhance all indices of malnutrition within the state,” he mentioned.
The officer mentioned that the progress, if maintained and improved upon, would considerably enhance the diet and wellbeing of youngsters and girls of childbearing age, together with pregnant ladies within the state.
He mentioned that UNICEF would proceed to assist the federal government to ship value efficient interventions that will guarantee most consequence on funding.
Providing an outline of the State Nutrition Policy, Dr Zainab Muhammad-Idris, the undertaking coordinator, Accelerating Nutrition Result in Nigeria, mentioned that a lot nonetheless must be finished despite the progress being recorded.
Muhammad-Idris mentioned that the diet coverage is focused to cut back stunting charge by 20 per cent, legislation start weight by 15 per cent, and losing by 10 per cent.
She added that the coverage additionally deliberate to cut back anaemia in ladies of reproductive age by 50 per cent and improve unique breastfeeding charges within the first six months of life to at the least 50 per cent.
“It additionally hoped to deal with complete laws for advertising Breast Milk Substitute, legislate on maternity depart and meals fortification, amongst different points.
“Beside the diet coverage, there may be additionally the Kaduna State Maternal Infant and Young Child Nutrition Strategy and Kaduna Multi-sectoral Strategic Plan of Action on Nutrition, 2020 to 2024, and different associated insurance policies throughout the state,” she mentioned. (NAN)
