Jigawa govt commended over food, nutrition policy

The Country Director of Action Against Hunger Nigeria, Mr Shaswat Saraf has commended Jigawa state government for launching its own social protection, food and nutrition policy.

Saraf, who made the commendation during the launch of the policy in Dutse, said it was a much-needed framework for addressing development challenges that bordered on poverty and nutrition.

“The official launch of the Jigawa state social protection and food and nutrition policy is a day we looked forward to and we are delighted to be associated with this great development.”

In his remark, the Chief of Field Office, UNICEF Nigeria, Bauchi Field Office, Bhanu Pathak, represented by the Nutrition Specialist of the Fund, Philomena Irene, said about half of child mortality in Nigeria was attributable to malnutrition.

“Thus, good nutrition plays a leading role in averting deaths of children in Nigeria. Ensuring proper nutrition of children requires a lifecycle approach whereby adequate nutrition commences from conception until the baby grows into an adolescent and then an adult.

“Negligence and lack of care for the girl-child during childhood and adolescence complicates the health and nutritional status of the individual. That is why UNICEF has identified nutrition as one of the priority interventions in Nigeria and thus the support for developing an institutional framework to address issues of nutrition.”