Osinbajo inaugurates National Council on Nutrition

VICE President Yemi Osinbajo has inaugurated the National Council on nutrition intended to lead the federal government’s interventions Nigeria’s nutritional challenges.

Performing the ceremony at the presidential villa, Abuja on Wednesday, he said the policy, if fully implemented, will ensure significant improvements in several specific national indices, including the reduction of stunting in under-5 children, reduction of wasting in children, reduction of anaemia in pregnant women, reduction in adult obesity rates, and an increase in the rates of exclusive breastfeeding.

He said the current administration has demonstrated its seriousness about catering to the needs of the most vulnerable of the nation’s population, compared to previous to administrations.

According to him, one of the primary manifestations of this commitment to the vulnerable is the government’s Social Investment Programme (SIP).

He said the School Feeding Programme is now active in 19 States of the country, providing one meal a day to 5million.

Osinbajo further said that the target is 5.5million children before the end of the year, adding l that at the beginning of December, they intend to carry out a mass deworming exercise on the back of the School Feeding Programme.

He explained that there is a strong connection between nutrition and economic growth, noting that if the government invests in improved nutrition for the people, they will see the results not only in improved emotional and psychological satisfaction in the citizens but also in reduced healthcare costs and increased economic productivity.

He added: “But the Government cannot fund this by itself. The private sector, civil society, and international community must all play a key role in helping mobilize financial and logistical resources, and in helping ensure transparency and accountability in the deployment of these resources. Indeed, every resource must be made to count towards the attainment of our goals and ambitions. There is no room for waste.

“The National Council on Nutrition has its work cut out, in implementation, collaboration, and communication. We bear the burden of very high expectations – Nigeria must make speedy and visible progress in its fight against hunger, malnutrition and other nutritional challenges. As part of this, we must ensure that the new National Food and Nutrition Policy is quickly domesticated at State level in every State of the Federation and the FCT.”