Chima Azubuike, Gombe
Alhassan Yahya, spokesman, Civil society on Malnutrition has decried the high rate of Severe Acute Malnutrition in the North-east, describing the trend as ‘pathetic’.
He said North East where Gombe is located has the highest burden with 60% of the cases.
Yahya disclosed this in a virtual meeting organized by International Society of Media and Public Health (ISMPH), Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre CISLAC), with Chairman House committee on Appropriation and other members of the
coalition against Severe Acute Malnutrition in the state.
According to him, “The National Nutrition and Health Survey 2018, indicated that Nigeria has 2.6 million cases of Severe Acute Malnutrition with North-east where Gombe is located carrying the highest burden of 60 percent of the cases.”
He added that increased nutrition funding will curb the menace of Severe Acute Malnutrition in the State.
On his part, Ali Manu, chairman of the house committee on Appropriation said Governor Inuwa Yahaya has accorded priority to healthcare and service delivery, adding that the Assembly had keyed into the priority area and supports the State government’s healthcare programmes.
“As the chairman, House Committee on Appropriation, I will ensure that fund allocated for nutrition will be adequately increased or the amount is maintained.
“Speaker Abubakar Sadiq-Kurba is one of the nutrition champions in the State, therefore, nobody will tamper with nutrition allocation,” he said.
Manu Stressed the need for the coalition to actively engage the line ministries with clear provision for nutrition services to ensure effective utilization of the fund.
“The nutrition line ministries such as Health, Women Affairs, Science and Technology, and Agriculture advocacy should be extended there,” he added.