30 govs fail to set up Nutrition Departments

Former Emir of Kano, His Highness Califa Mohammad Sanusi II has appealed to 30 State Governors who are-yet-to set up Nutrition Departments across Nigeria to urgently comply in order to win the war against malnutrition in Nigeria.

The lack of nutrition accounts for the 2nd highest mortality rate globally and highest in Sub Saharan Africa, with 12.7m infants and women especially within Child bearing age yearly.

Sanusi II who made the appeal at the National Council on Nutrition Dialogue with faith leaders on Tuesday in Abuja, but didn’t list the affected States.

Sanusi II who is also the Chairman of Nutrition society of Nigeria, lamented that most federal Ministries of Health across the federation have also failed to comply with the directive that was given last year.

The 14th Emir of Kano however called on stakeholders across the nation to provide budget lines for the Nutrition Departments’ and ensure that government policy is implemented.

“Only six States in Nigeria out of 36 have set up Nutrition Departments. Even at the federal level, many of the Ministries are yet to comply with the directive.

“We had an approval last year for Ministries to set up such Departments last year. Yet, many of the Ministries have not set up”, Sanusi II said North West and North Eastern part of Nigeria account for the highest percentage of deaths, according to the 2016 National Health Survey.

On his part, the President of Christian Association of Nigeria, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, sued for a collective action through effective mobilization for Nigeria to attain set goals.

Also speaking, His Eminence, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, the Sultan of Sokoto tasked governments at all levels to create incentives that would help to tackle hunger and insecurity which he said has denied Nigerians access to their livelihoods, including farms.

He also assured that traditional rulers and religious leaders will continue to play their roles by engaging their subjects as pivot that promote healthy lifestyle through advocacy and awareness creation.

The Sultan said, “The government can’t tell somebody to eat a balanced diet, when we can’t even find.a simple food to eat”.

President Bola Tinubu whose goodwill message on the occasion was delivered by Vice President Kashim Shettima, outlined some federal government interventions in improving healthcare in Nigeria.