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| Image: UNICEF Logo. |
By Salisu Kabuga
In a bid to tackle the alarming rates of malnutrition among children in Jigawa State, UNICEF has organized a groundbreaking Media Dialogue on Child-Sensitive Budgeting and Planning, aimed at empowering media practitioners and stakeholders with the knowledge and skills to drive meaningful change and rid the state from the menace of malnutrition among children.
It could be recalled that malnutrition has been a persistent problem in Jigawa State, with a significant impact on the health and well-being of children. The state has one of the highest rates of child malnutrition in Nigeria, with 55.6% of children under five suffering from stunting.
Against this backdrop, UNICEF organized a one-day Media Dialogue on Child-Sensitive Budgeting and Planning in Jigawa State, held on Wednesday at the Manpower Development Institute, Dutse, the Jigawa State capital.
The dialogue brought together relevant stakeholders from different sectors to address the menace of malnutrition among children in the state.
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| Image: UNICEF and Jigawa state government heads of Parastatal at the dialogue meeting. |
Speaking during the dialogue, the Chief of UNICEF Field Office, Kano, Mr. Rahama Farah, highlighted the importance of investing in Jigawa State's children through Child-Sensitive Budgeting and Planning. "This is an investment in the future of the state, given the fact that we have more than 1.5 million children under the age of 5 years in Jigawa," he said.
Farah emphasized that Jigawa State has made progress in improving the lives of children, but many are still being left behind. "Available data paint a challenging picture: Survival at Risk, The Shadow of Malnutrition, Quality Learning Denied, and Protection Gaps," he noted.
According to Farah, Child-Sensitive Budgeting and Planning is not just about creating a separate budget line for children, but a deliberate and systematic approach to planning, allocating, releasing, spending, and tracking public resources to ensure they effectively and equitably meet children's specific needs and uphold their rights.
The UNICEF Chief therefore emphasized the need for prioritizing child outcomes, equity focus, lifecycle lens, transparency, and accountability, as well as efficiency and effectiveness in budgeting and planning for children.
He also highlighted the moral and legal imperative for investing in children, citing the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and Nigeria's Child Rights Act 2003, which is domesticated by Jigawa State.
In his keynote address, the Jigawa State Commissioner of Budget and Economic Planning, Babangida Gantsa, assured that the Jigawa State government will continue to support the fight against malnutrition among children in the state. "We are committed to ensuring that our budgeting and planning processes prioritize the needs of children," he said.
Gantsa also assured that the state government will comply with UNICEF's request to establish units and departments dedicated to fighting malnutrition among children across all relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies. "Preparation is already underway to establish these units and departments," he noted.
"The media dialogue provided a platform for stakeholders to discuss the challenges of malnutrition among children in Jigawa State and to chart a way forward for addressing the issue," the commissioner explained.
Furthermore, Mr. Gantsa stated that the role of UNICEF in supporting the Jigawa State government in addressing the issue of malnutrition among children at this critical time is also commendable.
Commenting during the session of the dialogue, the Chairman of the Jigawa State Correspondent Chapel, Zangina Kura, emphasized the critical role of the media in addressing the problem of malnutrition among children in the state, saying that "the media must be proactive in highlighting the issues and holding leaders accountable."
Kura urged media practitioners to prioritize stories on child malnutrition and to ensure that the issue remains on the front burner of public discourse.
In a similar vein, the Chairman of the Jigawa State Coalition of Civil Societies, Comrade Shu'aibu Kafingana, pledged the commitment of civil society organizations to support the fight against malnutrition among children in the state. "We will work with the government and other stakeholders to ensure that the issue is addressed," he said.
Comrade Kafingana then emphasized the need for a multi-stakeholder approach to addressing the problem of malnutrition among children, involving government, civil society, and the media through ensuring the monitoring of the implementation of what was designed, budgeted and released for the program.
The NEWSKEEPER reports that the participants in attendance at the Media Dialogue resolved to work together to ensure that the needs of children are prioritized in planning, budgeting, releasing, implementation and monitoring processes in the state.
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