Mrs Olufolake AbdulRazaq, the wife of Kwara State governor, on Thursday in Ilorin expressed commitment to the fight against malnutrition amongst children in the state.
Mrs AbdulRazaq made the pledge during an Investiture conferred on her as a “Nutrition Champion” by the Accelerating Nutrition Result in Nigeria (ANRiN) Project, under the state Ministry of Health.
ANRiN project under the auspices of the Ministry of Health honoured the first lady as the “Nutrition Champion” in the state.
In her acceptance speech, the governor’s wife, who is the Founder, People Support Centre, observed that ANRiN is a 21-year Federal Government response, facilitated by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency in order to reduce chronic malnutrition, maternal and child mortality rates.
She stated that the project would also increase school completion and performance, and improve labour force productivity.
Mrs AbdulRazaq said that the project was also designed to achieve a balance between the urgent need to protect Nigerian children from the devastating and life-long effects of stunting through the scale-up of cost-effective interventions.
She commended the state government for facilitating the prompt payment of the state’s commitment fund that enabled the state to benefit from the World Bank-supported nutrition project.
She also commended the state Ministry of Health for their collaboration and in prioritising the interest of women, children and Kwara citizens at the forefront of their engagement.
The governor’s wife reiterated the commitment of her foundation towards supporting all the initiatives of the state government to the betterment of the people in the state, especially vulnerable children.
“I commend the Kwara State Ministry of Health for all the collaboration and partnership that puts the interest of women, children and indeed all Kwarans at the forefront that they engage in to reduce chronic malnutrition; stunting and micronutrient deficiencies,” she said.
According to her, this will reduce maternal and child mortality rates and over time increase school completion and performance as well as improve labour force productivity.
She reiterated the commitment of the state government for facilitating the prompt payment of the state’s commitment fund which enabled Kwara to be part of the benefitting states in the World Bank-supported nutrition project.
“This project no doubt will help increase utilisation of quality, cost-effective nutrition services for pregnant and lactating women, adolescent girls and children under five years of age in the state.
“On this note I accept this role and I also wish to use this occasion to reiterate my commitment and Ajike People Support Centre to continue to support all the initiatives of the government towards ensuring that kwara women and children enjoy the best of time,” she said.
Dr Raji Razaq, the state Commissioner for Health, had earlier explained that malnutrition was a major public health challenge globally.
According to him, malnutrition affects all age groups, especially children under five years of age, pregnant and lactating women, as well as adolescent girls who are most vulnerable.
Razaq applauded the governor’s wife for her unrelenting efforts towards championing health initiatives in the state.
He solicited for more attention and resources in the fight against malnutrition which required continued and sustained investment to achieve the desired objective.
Also speaking, Dr Anatomi Lawal, the ANRiN Project Manager, Kwara Ministry of Health, asserted that about 50 per cent of death in children are attributed to malnutrition.
Lawal said that the project would help increase utilisation of quality, cost-effective nutrition services for pregnant and lactating women, adolescent girls and children under five years of age in the state.