By Murtala Muhammad
Alkaleri local government area of Bauchi state has been urged to establish a dedicated budget line for nutrition activities with a view to reversing the local council’s forty six per cent stunting rate.
The Team Lead from the national secretariat of Civil Society Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria, CS-SUNN, Mr. Kunle Ishola who made the call during an advocacy visit to the local council’s leadership, said funding, timely release and utilisation of approved funds were key in achieving the desired goal.
Mr. Kunle Ishola, who described the local council’s forty six per cent stunting index as a large number, said it causes irreversible deficiencies among children, calling for urgent and sustainable action by all stakeholders towards arresting the problem.
He emphasised the importance of organising coordination meeting by the local council’s Committee on Food and Nutrition aimed at discussing issues around children’s malnutrition status and identifying solutions.
The state coordinator CS-SUNN, Ms. Dabis Mwalike said the goal of Partnership for Improving Nigeria Nutrition Systems PINNS 3.0 was for the LGA to have dedicated nutrition budget line in primary healthcare, agriculture, education, and other relevant directorates so as to have sustainability.
Responding, the Local Council’s Director of Administration, Umar Mohammed revealed that the LGA has no dedicated budget line for nutrition, but assured to draw the attention of the L.G.A. Chairman on the CS-SUNN’s request for consideration.
