UNICEF, Kaduna health agency sensitizes stakeholders on malnourishment

By Femi Oyelola, kaduna

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and Kaduna state Primary Health Development Agency (KDSPHA) have held meeting to sensitize in women in Kaduna state on nutrition status of children in the state.
The meeting was held under the banner of Community Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM), and Community Infant and Young Child Feeding Practice (C-CIYF).
Speaking on the essence of the meeting, Chinwe Ezeife of UNICEF Kaduna Field Office, said it was to ensure members of the taskforce were playing their roles effectively as they delivers quality CMAM and c-CIYF services in their various institutions.
She added that it was also geared at mobilizing and sensitizing stakeholders on supervision, participation and ownership of the programme, to share with stakeholders, achievement recorded in their communities as well as collect data from Nutrition Focal persons(NFPs) to identify gaps and proffer solutions.
Officer In-Charge of UNICEF Kaduna Office, Dr. Idris Baba, who was represented by Adamu Ndagi, in his goodwill message, noted that despite compelling evidence that breastfeeding and improved complementary feeding contributes to improved child-survival and development and overall nutritional status of children, but Nigeria is slow in its improvement.
As a result, he said Nigeria was still among the world’s highest child mortality rates and stunting prevalence as well as some of the lowest rates of recommended IYCF indicators.Executive Secretary, KDSPHA, Muhammad Auwal Waziri, said nutrition was the third prong priority of the state government, in addition to universal health coverage and immunization.
He said reporting noncompliance to traditional rulers for intervention will go a long way in addressing the issue of defaulters.