Jigawa CS-SUNN Urges Increased Nutrition Budget to Save Children’s Lives
From Mika’il Tsoho, Dutse
The Jigawa chapter of the Civil Society Scaling-Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN), supported by UNICEF, has called for an increased nutrition budget to save the lives of thousands of children and pregnant women in the state.
The appeal was made during an advocacy visit to the Jigawa Nutrition Unit under the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning at the State Secretariat in Dutse.
Speaking during the visit, the State Coordinator of CS-SUNN, Comrade Shu’aibu Musa Kafin-Gana, commended the government for prioritizing nutrition but urged for increased budgetary allocation and improved implementation to enhance nutrition programs.
He also advocated for an extension of maternity leave from three to six months to enable caregivers to practice exclusive breastfeeding effectively.
Responding, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Alhaji Muhammad Yusha’u Jaji, praised CS-SUNN’s efforts in promoting nutrition and announced plans to assign a desk officer specifically for nutrition matters.
He emphasized that this initiative would help expedite fund releases and improve the implementation of the nutrition budget.
The State Nutrition Officer, Muhammad Abdullahi, also commended the CS-SUNN team and pledged support to reduce malnutrition and stunting in Jigawa.
He highlighted the state government’s commitment to nutrition through various programs, including Masaki, the establishment of CMAM centers, and the timely release of ₦250 million as a counterpart fund to UNICEF for the procurement of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF).
