The Kwara State Government has commenced Mid-term review of the Muilti-Sectoral Plan of Action on Nutrition, geared towards eradicating the menace of malnutrition as well as ensuring healthy lifestyles and deitary habits in the State.
The 5-days review exercise, which commenced on Monday, 30th October, 2023, was organised by the Kwara State Government, in collaboration with the Civil Society Scaling-Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN), held at G-Pinnacle Hotels & Suites, Pipeline Road, Ilorin.
The Commissioner for Planning and Economic Development, Mallam Lafia Aliyu Kora Sabi, who declared the review exercise opened, said that the eradication of malnutrition is germane to ensuring a more prosperous society.
The Commissioner noted that well-fed children, women and other vulnerable groups in the society will improve their physical and mental well-being, which will turn enable them to contribute meaningfully to the overall development of the State.
He stated that the State Governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has continuously demonstrated his unwavering commitment to eradicating malnutrition ravaging the lives of the downtrodden in the State through the domestication of the Multi-Sectoral Plan of Action on Nutrition (MSPAN) in Kwara State.
Hon. Lafia added that the MSPAN is a five year document, planned for years 2021-2025, revealing that the National Committee on Food and Nutrition gave the States marching order to conduct mid-term review meetings to identify challenges and restrategize on how best malnutrition can be nipped in the bud.
The Commissioner also said that the conduction of the mid-term review meeting is one of the scorecards set by the Nigeria Governors’ Forum in nutrition interventions policies across the States in the country.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Communications, Hon. Bolanle Olukoju, said that combating malnutrition is critical to the socio- economic development growth of the State, lauding the State Governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for his unalloyed commitment to ensuring malnutrition is eradicated for improved well-being of children, women and other vulnerable groups in Kwara State.
In her remarks, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Amina Ahmed El-lmam, noted that Food and Nutrition is very critical as Nigeria is reported to have the second highest stunted growth in children in the world, stressing that underfed children and women contribute to mortality rates and reduced economic growth.
She further stated that many vulnerable groups suffer accute malnutrition, explaining that stunting is related to poor cognitive development, poor academic performance and unproductivity in nation’s building.
The Coordinator, Civil Society Scaling-Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN), Kwara Sate Chapter, Mr. Francis Fatoye, lauded the Governor for his commitment to ensuring that the menace of malnutrition is addressed in the State as a result of its negative impact on the socio-economic development of the State.
He added that the CS-SUNN, which is one of the development Partners of Food and Nutrition, will continue to give its support to the Kwara State Government in combatting the challenges of malnutrition in Kwara State.
