By Salisu K Ismail
The Aisha Buhari Foundation has organised a stakeholders meeting drawn from various government agencies, civil societies and specialists towards renewing efforts on the problem of severe accurate malnutrition among children in Jigawa state.
In a welcome address delivered by Dr Fatima Jibrilla of Aisha Buhari Foundation during a one day conference titled "Jigawa State Nutrition Stakeholders Meeting" held Wednesday, at Manpower Development Institute, Dutse, the state capital, said, the objective of the meeting is to increase government, development partners and other stakeholder's political will and commitment on the current war against malnutrition which is one of the top caused of death among young children in the state.
"We're gathered here to renew our efforts and strategies among the engaged stakeholders to come out with a sustainable measures and proper coordination to end malnutrition as well as ensuring better life of our children," She pointed out.
Dr Fatima however stated that, the conference was organised in collaboration with Federal Govenment, International Society of Media In Public Health, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Center and Network For Health Equity & Development among others with the aim to support vulnurable group in the state.
On her part, The Jigawa state commissioner for women affairs Hajia Yalwa Da'u thanks the Foundation for the gesture and pointed that, "Malnutrition is not an issue that only government can tackle it."
The Commissioner therefore, explained that Jigawa state government took the matter with all seriousness, while citing (Masaki) a government owned program to support less previlage families across selected communities in the state.
" We've to ensure that, rural women are adequately sensitised and educated on the importance of providing nutritious foods to their children," She added
Presenting a situation analysis on the journey so far in the state, The Director Primary Health Care Dr Shehu Sambo represented by Director statistics Magaji Uba Ahmad highlighted some of the problem that are still bedeveling the nutrition program in the state among which includes the poor perception of the public on the caused of malnutrition and wrong dietary habit.
Others among the main problems as he enumerated that are hindering the smooth implementation of the program are late release of funds from authorities concerned and limited number of beneficial local government areas.
In their separate goodwill messages diginitaries that attended the meeting representing different government agencies and supporting partners says that, There is no better time than now for the implementation of this initiative considering the adverse and devastating effects of Covid-19 which almost cripled-down all human activities in the world.
Newskeeper learned that, the ongoing "Masaki" nutrition program targeted at vulnurable children to protect them against hunger is only being carried out in 15 out of 27 local governments areas of Jigawa state.
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