Chima Azubuike, Gombe
A Civil Society Coalition on Malnutrition, on Thursday urged the Gombe state government to scale up Community- Based Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) sites across eleven LGA’s in the state.
According to Mohammed Muritala, Assistant Programme officer, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy centre, the remaining 5 sites should be considered for effective distribution of ready to use therapeutic food and treatment of Severe Acute Malnutrition.
Muritala stated this during an interface Session on Prevention and Treatment of Severe Acute Malnutrition, organized by CISLAC, Aisha Buhari Foundation, International Society of Media in Public Health, and Network for Health Equity and Development with state actors in the House Assembly and MDA’s.
“Out of 11 Local Government Areas in the state, 6 Community Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) sites are in operation, with 5 LGA’s yet to be established,” he said.
While appreciating the government for approving 75 million naira for the purchase of RUTF, Muritala added that 25 million has so far been released.
Speaker Gombe state House of Assembly, Ibrahim Abubakar, during an under spot assessment to Pantami CMAM site said what was observed is a stark reality of the Situation of malnutrition in the state.
Abubakar said, “The governor has made health sector his priority and as such has taken good time and resources to invest into the health sector from the confession from parents that the RUTF taken that they have taken improving the health of their children.”
On her part, Aishatu Umar, a registered nurse midwife, facility manager of the site said parents must be encouraged to embrace complementary feeding and exclusive breast feeding.
She said, “So that this children as they are transiting from RUTF to the locally available food there will be an impact.”
Also speaking, Nasir Bappayo, the representative of the Commissioner for Health, called for effective release of budgetary allocations.
“There were many items deducted during implementation, where the House of Assembly will use it own power most especially during oversight functions. We are appealing to the House of Assembly to add more funds to cover for the entire thematic areas, which is a major challenge health is facing,” Bappayo stated.
Spokesman of Advocacy Working group, Alhassan Yahya said that the government should be commended for actual release of 25 million naira, adding that the group will ensure the timely release of remaining funds.
