CISLAC stresses need for improved funding for nutrition ingredients

PARTICIPANTS of an Executive, Legislative, CSOs and Media round table on financing for nutrition have stressed the need for intensifying policy advocacy to Bauchi state Governor, Mohammed Abubakar on prompt release of nutrition funding in the state.

A communique issued at the end of the meeting held in Bauchi also stressed the need for enhanced synergy between stakeholders, the government, CSOs, Media, Civil and Religious Leaders to amplify voices, create awareness and educate the populace on malnutrition as well as push for improvement in nutrition funding in the state.

It also opined that to ensure a more amplified voice on nutrition funding in the state, the MDAs working on nutrition should work in synergy with CSOs working on nutrition in the state in order to push for nutrition funding by creating inroads for advocacy to the government and sharing of information with CSOs that would be useful for engaging all stakeholders.

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The communique also want the media to adopt a wholistic approach through agenda setting to unveiling challenges bedeviling adequate and timely release of funding for nutrition

It further noted that since 99.9% of Bauchi indigenes have access to radio and other media channels, the media should therefore be proactive in sensitizing, informing and creating awareness on the importance of maintaining adequate nutrition status.

The meeting according to the communique further stressed that Mobilization and awareness creation on the use of RUTF should be carried out through PHC centers as they are closer to the people, as well as explore and source local alternatives to RUTF in order to address the funding gap and inconsistency of availability of nutrition ingredients.

It was also resolved that civil society groups should intensify advocacy for increase budgetary allocation and timely release of funds for nutrition in the state while the Bauchi State House of Assembly through relevant legislative committees should facilitate budgets passage, ensure its release and effective utilization.

The communique further observed that malnutrition constitutes a serious setback to socio-economic development of a nation, and sustainable growth in Northern Nigeria cannot be achieved without prioritized attention to scale-up and sustain investment for nutrition.

It said that as part of policy interventions to address malnutrition, the Bauchi state government in partnership with UNICEF has developed a food and nutrition policy for implementation in the state, due to be finalized by the end of the year 2018.

The roundtable further however observed that the percentage of stunted children under 5 years in Bauchi state has reduced from 54.4% in 2013 to 35.7% in 2016.

“Apart from the challenge of funding, insufficient CMAM Centers, and lack of extension workers, there is also the challenge of complete lack of information and knowledge regarding the use of RUTF and malnutrition preventive measures in the state, owing to lack of mobilization, sensitization and awareness creation”, the participants observed.

According to the communique, the participants observed that out of the 21,457 children admitted into CMAM program in 2017 in Bauchi state, 94% were cured, while 3.8% death rate was registered.