UNICEF partners with Jigawa to increase investment in Nutrition
From Mika’il Tsoho, Dutse
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) through Civil Society Scaling-Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN) collaborated with the Jigawa state government to strengthen and increase Investment in Nutrition with aim of reducing the stunting rates in the state.
The move was announced by the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning Officer of CS-SUNN, Jibrin Ogbaji during the two-day capacity-building workshop and advocacy strategy and budget tracking, held in Dutse.
He explained that CS-SUNN on their part will build the capacity of Civil Society Organizations working around Nutritions to advocate for budget increases on Nutrition and as well as the extension of maternity leave for lactating mothers.
“Our objective is to support Budget Releases and utilization for Nutrition programming at federal and selected states including Jigawa, increased from 2 million to 3 million USD by October 2024.
He maintained that other objective is “the states with approved policies for civil servants on extended paid maternity leave for six months increased by three times”.
While making his remarks, the Jigawa state Nutrition officer, Sa’id Umar who was represented by his Assistant said, the state government has already embarked on many Nutrition interventions and programs to reduce the number of malnourished children in the state.
According to him, some of the interventions are the MASAKI program that involves food demonstration, Nutrition screening for children, and Routine immunization, adding that, the state also embarked on free Anti-natal services for pregnant women, health talk on the importance of consumption of local nutritious foods.
The Nutrition officer said other interventions include the provision of free Iron folate supplement, bi-annual Maternal Newborn and Child Health Week, Vitamin A supplement, provision of Albendazole tablets for deworming, nutrition screening, and Maternal cash transfer, among many other interventions.
