Bukola Afeni
The Federal Government has called for collaborative effort to end malnutrition in Nigeria.
The Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic planning, Nebeolisa Anako made the disclosure at the launch of the 2021 National Food Consumption and Micronutrient Survey Report in Abuja.
He disclosed that Nutrition is an important component of health that every stakeholders in the health sector should prioritize.
The Permanent Secretary added that According to him, Malnutrition is a great issue and call for joint effort from all stakeholders in different ministries and sector of the government.
“The vital nature of nutrition is important in every sector of the economy. It affect the overall output of an individual and the country at large”, he said.
In the same vein, he advised all individuals to be very deliberate about consuming nutritious foods.
“The choice of food we consume have a way of affecting our lives. The importance of adequate nutrition cannot but be emphasized at every stage of an individual life.”
He further highlighted that the report that is being launched represent a deep dive between food consumption pattern and the component of food in the body.
The Director and Health Nutrition Department, Federal Ministry of Health, Mrs Bako Aiyegbusi, said the National Food Consumption and Micro Nutrient Survey Report is a cross sectional survey targeting pregnant women between 15-49 years , and adolescent of 10-14 years in 6 geopolitical zones of the country.
She added that the report of the 2021 NFCMS provides information for evidence based policy and programmatic decisions for national supplementation, fortification, sensitization of appropriate Nutrient consumprion.
” We are urging all stakeholders in the nutrition sector to ensure that Nigerians utilize the report effectively especially towards ending malnutrition in the country”, she said. .
The Acting EVC of FCCPC , Dr Adamu Abdullahi who was represented by Ganbi Leman said malnutrition is a great issue of public health which need to be addressed effectively.
He disclosed that the data being launched will bring positive influence to nutrition landscape in Nigeria.
“The data will bring positive influence in nutrition outcome of the country. When the population is healthy, the members of the community will be healthy as well”,he said.
