From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna
The Civil Society Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN) Kaduna Chapter has reiterated its commitment to scaling up nutrition and reducing the malnutrition crisis which is still a public health concern in the state.
The State Coordinator of the Alliance Jessica Bartholomew asserted this at the 4th quarterly meeting of the CS-SUNN Kaduna State chapter held yesterday.
Bartholomew advocated for meaningful mechanisms, improved coordination and enhanced accountability systems specifically dedicated to addressing nutrition challenges among stakeholders.
Also, the Coordinator disclosed that the the meeting facilitated a comprehensive review of past activities, the adoption of new resolutions, and the laying out of a strategic plan for 2024.
She lauded the collective efforts of the members underscoring the alliance’s dedication to improving nutritional outcomes and building a healthier community.
A significant portion of the meeting, according to her, was dedicated to developing the work plan for 2024 and participants engaged in interactive sessions, brainstorming activities, and strategic planning discussions.
She adds: “The focus was on identifying priority areas, setting achievable goals, and allocating resources effectively. The collaborative effort resulted in a detailed work plan, emphasizing capacity building, advocacy, and community nutrition programs.”
Affirming CS-SUNN’s dedication to advancing the nation’s nutrition agenda, the Coordinator referenced ongoing projects like PINNS-2.0. Bartholomew called upon partners to continue collaborative efforts in raising awareness, generating data and mobilising resources to enhance nutrition outcomes in Kaduna state and Nigeria at large.
‘Malnourishment is both the cause and effect of limited opportunities for socioeconomic development.
“Public investments aimed at improving nutrition in the Country have been recognized recently as a key to alleviating poverty
“Where child malnutrition is linked to poverty with low family income, constrained access to safe food, water, and health care, interventions targeted at improving households’ own or community-level resources have long been deemed a critical element of an effective nutrition enhancement strategy hence we as Nutrition advocates must up our games for the betterment our people”, she stressed.
