The Civil Society Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN) in collaboration with the FHI360 Alive and Thrive have called on all relevant sectors and stakeholders to adhere to the Marketing of Infant and Young Children Food and Other Designated Products Regulations 2019 to protect, support and promote exclusive breastfeeding in Nigeria.
CS-SUNN and FHI360 Alive and Thrive also reaffirm their commitment to mobilizing communities, civil society and demanding government accountability in implementing the NMPFAN, enforcing the BMS Code and Other Designated Products Regulations 2019.
The Executive Secretary of CS-SUNN, Sunday Okoronkwo who was represented by the Co-Chair, Mrs Aji Robinson and the Country Representative/Project Director of FHI360 Alive and Thrive, made the call in a joint press briefing at the end of a Media Roundtable on Strengthening the Implementation of the National Multi-Sectoral Plan of Action for Food and Nutrition (NMPFAN) with Focus on Increased Nutrition Funding and Reinforcing the Breast Milk Substitute (BMS) Marketing Code in Nigeria held on 24th September 2024 in Abuja.
The noted that the call to action focuses on the critical role that media, policymakers, development partners, the private sector, and civil society organisations (CSOs) play in ensuring improved nutrition outcomes in Nigeria.
“We call on the federal, state, and local governments to prioritize and increase budgetary allocations to nutrition in the 2024 budget, including dedicated domestic resources for the procurement and distribution of Multiple Micronutrient Supplements (MMS). Adequate funding is the cornerstone for effective implementation of nutrition interventions.”
“We urge the media to set issues around nutrition, especially the BMS Code and NMPFAN implementation as an agenda and amplify discussions around these issues. Your role in educating the public and holding stakeholders accountable through reporting is key to improving nutrition outcomes in Nigeria.”
“We urge development partners and the private sector to uphold sustained technical and financial support towards Nigeria’s nutrition programs. Your continued investment in nutrition interventions is crucial in supporting the government’s efforts towards the eradication of malnutrition.”
The lamented that malnutrition remains a pressing public health concern in Nigeria, significantly contributing to the country’s high rates of morbidity and mortality, particularly among children under five. According to them, the situation requires urgent and coordinated efforts.
While quoting the National Food and Consumption Micronutrient Survey (NFCMS), 2021, the disclosed that the prevalence of stunting is 33.8% adding that this is significantly higher among children with iron, vitamin A, zinc and vitamin B12 deficiencies—conditions that increase the risk of mortality, illness, and hindered cognitive and physical development.
“In addition, the survey also shows that 55 per cent of children aged 6-23 month consume unhealthy foods.”
“The National Multi-Sectoral Plan of Action for Food and Nutrition (NMPFAN) launched in 2021, is a comprehensive strategy aimed at tackling malnutrition in Nigeria through coordinated efforts across key sectors such as health, agriculture, education, social protection, water and sanitation, information and other key line Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).”
“Central to this plan is the improvement of Maternal, Infant, and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN), enhanced food security, micronutrient control, and the integration of nutrition across all sectors.:
“The plan also emphasizes the need for strengthened governance, accountability, and multi-sector/multistakeholder coordination. Several barriers, however, continue to impede the effective implementation of this plan (including inadequate financing, fragmented inter-sectoral coordination, poor accountability) and undermine efforts at combating malnutrition.
“With Nigeria’s next budget cycle on the horizon and the attendant low budgetary allocations to nutrition, this media roundtable offers a timely platform to emphasize the critical need for increased domestic funding for nutrition, including access to Multiple Micronutrient Supplements (MMS).”
“According to CS-SUNN’s Trend Analysis of Nutrition Budget in Nigeria (2019-2022), only 0.47% of the national health budget was allocated to nutrition in 2022, a figure that starkly contrasts with the recommendations from the World Bank for low and middle-income countries to allocate at least 5% of their health budgets to nutrition interventions.”
“Without sustainable funding, the NMPFAN goals will remain out of reach, leaving millions of Nigerians, especially children, vulnerable to malnutrition and its devastating impacts.”
“In addition to financing, low adherence to national guidelines and codes of conduct such as the proliferation of breast milk substitutes (BMS) in the Nigerian market against the Breast Milk Substitute Marketing Code with the current insufficient enforcement represents another critical challenge.”
“According to the NDHS 2018, exclusive breastfeeding rates in Nigeria are still unacceptably low, at just 29%. This contrasts with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) global target of at least 50% by 2025.”
“Exclusive Breastfeeding for the first six months of life and continued breastfeeding up until two years with adequate complementary feeding has been proven to improve child survival rates and nutrition outcomes, yet the aggressive promotion of formula continues to undermine the practice and benefits of exclusive breastfeeding.”
“The Breast Milk Substitute Marketing Code, which aims to protect breastfeeding by regulating the marketing of breast milk substitutes, is vital to improving infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices in the country.”
“Nevertheless, despite its endorsement and enforcement roles assigned to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), its full implementation is hampered by weak compliance and enforcement mechanisms, coupled with aggressive marketing practices by manufacturers of BMS.”
“The Civil Society Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN), in collaboration, FHI 360 Alive & Thrive and other nutrition partners in Nigeria convene this crucial media roundtable aimed at enhancing the implementation of the NMPFAN, emphasizing the urgent need for increased nutrition funding and the reinforcement of the Breast Milk Substitute (BMS) marketing Code in Nigeria.”
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