The Kaduna State government has been advised to consider nutrition as its priority and make the necessary investment to address malnutrition in the state.
Zainab Muhammad-Idris, programme manager, Accelerating Nutrition Result in Nigeria, gave the advice at the opening of a two-day workshop in Zaria with the theme “Move on to strengthen the fight against malnutrition”.
Zainab said adequate infant and young child feeding practices are key to preventing children from becoming malnourished, while also commending the state government for the attention given to nutrition intervention.
This is coming as the Kaduna State government has begun the development of 2021 Nutrition Annual Operational Plan (AOP) for relevant ministries, department and agencies (MDAs).
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Salisu Lawal, director, development aid coordination (DAC), Planning and Budget Commission, who disclosed this, said the development of the AOP, supported by UNICEF and Save the Children International, would operationalise the state Multi-sectoral Strategic Plan of Action on Nutrition (KDMSPAN) 2020-2024.
Zakari Adam, chief field officer, UNICEF Kaduna Field Office, stressed the importance of an annual operational plan to address the scourge of malnutrition in the state.
Adam, who was represented by Chinwe Ezeife, nutrition specialist, UNICEF Kaduna, explained that the review of progresses and challenges experienced in 2020 would enable a better plan for 2021.
He pointed out that the state was still grappling with poor nutrition indices, noting the need to look for different approaches to achieve desired results.
