Vice President Kashim Shettima has inaugurated the Nutrition Core Working Committee to adopt a strategy to end severe acute malnutrition in the country.
Shettima, while inaugurating the committee at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, emphasised the importance of coordination and collaboration with the National Committee on Food and Nutrition (NCFN).
According him, President Bola Tinubu’s administration is determined to upturn the negative nutrition indices in the country.
Shettima recounted his recent visit to Tudun Biri village in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State where he witnessed the tragic plight of a malnourished child caught in the unfortunate military drone strike.
” I welcome you to the inauguration of this all important committee that will serve as the intellectual power house that will provide the expertise and technical competence to the National Council on Nutrition.
” As far as I am concerned, you are the people that will draw the roadmap for us. As I have always said, we have no business being poor. We are potentially one of the richest countries in the world but we have so far remained a potential.
” This is why I am very passionate about this committee,” the vice president said.
Shettima, who lamented the unfortunate situation in Nigeria, stated that more needed to be done to ameliorate the situation.
“I have some statistics here. With 33 per cent prevalence of chronic malnutrition in this country, accounting for 2.5 billion dollars annually in losses, out of 100 kids under the age of five in Nigeria, only 88 survive.
” And beyond that, a child born in Nigeria has I think 36 per cent chance of reaching the age of 60.”
Shettima implored the committee to work hard and change Nigeria’s narrative on nutrition.
“I wish to implore this committee to work hard but most importantly I want to assure you that we are ready to work with you. You are going to be our engine room and you will have to drive the process.
In an interview with newsmen, Special Adviser to the Vice President on Public Health, Dr Uju Okorocha, said 88 out of 100 children are most likely not be to be able to get to the age of five as a result of malnutrition.
” We have about 33 per cent of Stanton rates in Nigeria which is really high and about 88 out of 100 children are most likely not be to be able to get to the age of five as a result of malnutrition.
” And it also cause economic burden of over 2.5 billion dollars and so this are some of the actions that the nutrition core working group will be looking at to change.
” Like I said the narrative and to make sure we have measurable outcomes that will shift the niddle of malnutrition in Nigeria.”
She said that the vice-president had ordered the committee to take proactive and sustainable actions to be able to change narratives in the country.
” A lot of that has to do with coordination across the different Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
” Because as we know, nutrition is a cross cutting in agriculture, education, Ministry of Water Resources, Social Protection and Ministry of Health as well.
” So it requires a coordinated and collaborative efforts also with Development Partners, donors as well as Civil Society Organisations (CSOs)
” So, we really have taken on this task and to deliver on the mandate that has been given to us.”
Also, Zouera Youssoufou, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF), affirmed that the committee would support the National Council on Nutrition to help drive the agenda in Nigeria.
” His Excellency the Vice President Kashim Shettima inaugurated the committee and gave us a marching order about drawing up a worktable plan which is what we will go and do and deliver.
” What we need to do differently is synergise our efforts more. Right now there is a lot of silot efforts.
” So, people are working on different things Siemens, on people are working on prevention, some people are working on agriculture.
“And really the idea is how do we put everybody’s effort together so that we are all moving the same direction and we can count the impact together of what we are doing.”