The Kaduna State Committee on Food and Nutrition (SCFN) on Wednesday called on the state Ministry of Education to promote nutrition education and resuscitate school farms and gardens in all public schools.
The committee made the call during an advocacy visit to the ministry in Kaduna, to push for increased investment India nutrition, through the creation of budget lines in relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
Mr Sani Hassan, Technical Adviser to Kaduna State Emergency Nutrition Action Plan (KADENAP) on Nutrition, explained that school farms, gardens and nutrition education were long-term interventions toward promoting good nutrition practices.
Hassan also called for the creation of a budget line for nutrition in the ministry to implement the education component of the Kaduna State Multi-Sectoral Strategic Plan of Action on Nutrition.
He said that the introduction of key nutrition messages in teaching and learning in schools, including early childcare education was critical in addressing the gap between knowledge of good nutrition and practice.
The technical adviser also urged the ministry to link the committee with agencies and departments under its purview to ensure collective action against malnutrition.
Earlier, Ms Linda Yakubu, Director, Development Aid Coordination, Planning and Budget Commission (PBC), who led the delegation explained that the advocacy was also to solicit for more collaboration.
According to her, stronger partnership and collaboration with relevant MDAs will strengthen the state response to the menace of malnutrition.
She explained that the advocacy was supported by Civil Society-Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN), UNICEF, Alive and Thrive, Accelerating Nutrition Result in Nigeria and KADENAP.
Ms Jessica Bartholomew, State Coordinator, CS-SUNN, stressed the need for increased investment in nutrition which in the long run, would build the needed human capital development in the state.
According to her, improved investment in the nutrition sector will ensure all children have a good start in life, grow to full potential and contribute to the development of the state.
Mrs Chinwe Ezeife, Nutrition Specialist, UNICEF Kaduna Field Office, said that emphasis has shifted from curative to preventive as cost effective measures to addressing malnutrition problems.
“We want to reach every community with integrated services and Community-Infant and Young Child Feeding (C-IYCF and Maternal, Infant, and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN) programmes.
“This is a crucial and cost-effective strategy in providing the needed information and promotion of good nutrition practices among caregivers in communities.
“This, in the long run, will reduce the incidence of malnutrition among women, adolescents and children under five years in the state,” Ezeife said.
Responding, the Commissioner for Education, Hajiya Halima Lawal, acknowledged that education interventions would significantly improve the nutrition situation in the state.
Lawal, who was represented by Mr Salisu Lawal, Director, Educational Planning and Physical Development, pledged to work with relevant agencies to resuscitate school farms and gardens in public schools.
She also promised to make all Nutrition Clubs in secondary schools very active to promote nutrition education in schools.
“We will also work towards increasing the allocation for nutrition interventions in the ministry’s proposed budget for 2023,” she said.
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