Group makes case for adequate funding of malnutrition centres in Nigeria

A non-governmental organisation, known as Food Hygiene Initiative of Nigeria, has called on the Federal Government to adequately fund malnutrition centres in the country to promote the wellbeing of the citizenry.

Dr. Jonah Karimu, the Director-General of the organisation, made the call at a one-day sensitisation meeting on ‘Food Fortification for Health Organisations’, organised by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission.

Karimu said that cases of malnutrition were rampant in the nation’s rural areas, adding that the situation required immediate attention by all stakeholders.

The director-general said that his organisation was committed to the promotion of health and fight against food and water-borne diseases in the country.

He said that the release of adequate funds would help in tackling the menace of malnutrition and improve the standard of living of the citizenry, especially women and children in rural communities.

He said: “The sensitisation is to stimulate communities to scale up nutrition with specific focus on maternal and child nutrition in the country.

“This is because malnutrition is a development issue, which is rampant at the rural areas and needs to be addressed holistically.

“Therefore, one sector alone cannot address the issue of malnutrition in the country, hence the need for collaboration woth all relevant sectors.

“We call on the Federal Government to adequately fund malnutrition centres for the promotion of health in the country.”

Karimu said that malnutrition-related deaths among children could be checked by maintaining balanced diet for children to improve their living standard.

Our correspondent reports that the sensitisation meeting brought together nutritional focal persons from various health organisations in the country.