Written by Luminous Giannamike
To address Nigeria’s malnutrition crisis, the Federal Government, Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN and the World Bank have partnered to launch a nationwide intervention.
The cooperation aims to support Nigeria’s 11 million children suffering from malnutrition, with a particular focus on pregnant women, adolescent girls and children under five in 11 high-burden states.
The partnership was formally launched at the Actors of Faith Workshop/National Sensitization Course on Accelerating Nutrition Outcomes in Nigeria (ANRIN) held yesterday in Abuja.
The workshop brought together stakeholders including faith leaders, health professionals, and government officials to discuss strategies to improve nutritional outcomes.
According to CAN President Archbishop Daniel Okoh (Dr.
Speaking on behalf of CAN Under-Secretary-General, Rev. (Mrs.) Uzoaku Williams, Mr. Okoh said that malnutrition can lead to many health problems, especially among vulnerable groups such as children, women and the elderly. He emphasized that there is.
She emphasized the need to challenge cultural and social norms that prevent proper nutrition.
The CAN President said: “Nutrition is not just a matter of nutrition; it is the basis of human development and social progress. We all know that it can cause health problems.
“Today’s workshop was timely and gave us an opportunity to remind ourselves, as faith leaders, of the need to accelerate the nutrition of Nigeria and challenge certain norms, including cultural, social and religious Norms have shaped our behavior for many years, but we have come to accept them as normal.
“Pregnant mothers need to be careful. Nursing mothers need to be careful. Young children need to be careful. What they eat and the environment in which they grow up are important to who they become in the future. Breastfeeding mothers often don’t get noticed in social situations or at work.
There is also a lack of consideration in some daycare centers, including church-owned daycares like ours. ”
Through the SBC, Faith Leaders Program, Bako Kantiok, ANRIN’s Project Manager for Social and Behavioral Change, said the project will increase access to quality nutrition services in 11 provinces with high rates of malnutrition. It was explained that.
“We are particularly concerned about issues such as low birth weight, inadequate breastfeeding and inability to exclusively breastfeed for the first six months of life.
“Challenges we face include sociocultural practices that prevent proper nutrition for babies and pregnant mothers. For example, certain cultural beliefs may prevent exclusive breastfeeding for six months or Proper feeding habits for newborns are hindered.”
“Maintaining good hygiene for both mother and child is also important for optimal health. These issues are being studied and we are working to address them,” he says. said. “CAN’s National Director General, National Affairs and Social Welfare Directorate, Brigadier Prophet Prophet Abimbola Ayuba, highlighted the objectives of the project, which include improving access to quality; pregnant and lactating women; adolescent girls; Nutritional services for children under age.
Nigeria ranks 11th in the world for child malnutrition and this partnership is seen as critical to improving nutrition outcomes and promoting the country’s development.
Details on project implementation and progress will be shared in the coming months.
