Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia
Benue State Government may use ₦29,271,692 on treatment of malnourished children yearly, if it fails to implement nutrition policies.
The Programme Officer, Civil Society-Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN), Mr Ambrose Evnoesor, stated this on Wednesday in Makurdi, during a meeting on implementation of six months Maternity Leave with pay for women of reproductive age in Benue.
Evnoesor said that lack of good nutrition remained a leading cause of death, stunted growth, poor development and diminished productivity in adulthood.
He said according to the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey, 21 per cent of children under-five in Benue are stunted, 23 per cent are underweight and 13.6 per cent are wasted.
He expressed worry over the lack of a Strategic Plan of Action for Nutrition (SPAN), to provide a multi-sectoral approach to tackling the problem of malnutrition among women and children.
He however, commended Benue government for improving on its budgetary allocation for Nutrition activities.
Evnoesor therefore, urged the government to implement the six months maternity leave for nursing mothers to enable them take adequate care of their children’s nutritional needs.
Meanwhile, the Director-General of the Budget and Economic Planning Commission, Dr Jerome Andohol, acknowledged the significance of the policy in promoting gender equality, supporting mothers and ensuring the well-being of children.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary of the commission, Mr Moses Levah, Andohol, said he was excited to explore ways in which the commission and CS-SUUN could work together to make the policy a success.
He further commended CS-SUNN, UNICEF and other partners, for supporting the state government in recognising the importance of the policy.
A Member of the Benue State House of Assembly and Chairman Standing Committee on Health, Mr Thomas Dugeri, called for full implementation of budgetary allocations, not only for nutrition, but other health sectors.
According to Dugeri, the state assembly is monitoring and ensuring implementation of the budget for the overall good of the state.
He emphasised the need for the state to approve the policy document on nutrition because of its importance. (NAN)
