USAID Earmarks $9.5m To Tackle Malnutrition In Bauchi, Kebbi, Sokoto

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) says it has earmarked 9.5 million dollars to tackle malnutrition in Bauchi, Kebbi and Sokoto states for two years.

This was disclosed by the Director, Health Population and Nutrition Office, USAID-Nigeria, Mr. Paul McDermott at the USAID Advancing Nutrition Project Launch in Abuja.

McDermott said the challenge of malnutrition in Nigeria was evident, and that a multi-sectoral approach was needed to change the situation, especially in children, adolescents and women.

McDermott said that addressing the multifaceted challenges of malnutrition remained one of the agency’s greatest areas of focus and that it would continue to collaborate with the government of Nigeria.

He said the agency would continue to provide support for women, children and adolescents at risk of malnutrition.

McDermott added that USAID had a multi-sectoral institution nutrition strategy for 2020 to 2025, which aligned with its broader USAID strategy across all the development sectors it was working.

He added, “It covers almost everything that we have been talking about today; access to food, service delivery capacity, community leadership, the role of women’s health, water, and sanitation.’’

McDermott said that USAID was also looking at the 1000 day window between the start of a woman’s pregnancy and the child’s second birthday.

The project, he said, had an overall approach and established priorities for investments in policies and programmes to reduce the many burdens of malnutrition.

He added that it would seek to improve coordination, both at the federal and sub-national levels and increase collaboration.

He said, “So we are very pleased to unveil this strategy today, we are already doing some of this work in integrating the nutrition that is happening across the 33 states.”

Minister of State for Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mr. Clement Agba, on his part, said that the negative consequences of malnutrition on public health expenditure and economic productivity required a multiple-pronged approach by all stakeholders to address it.

Represented by Dr. Sanjo Faniran, director, Social Development, Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, the minister commended USAID for its effort in tackling malnutrition, adding that the government was committed to addressing the incidence of malnutrition by implementing strategies.

Ms Tina Lloren, director of Country Initiatives, USAID Advancing Nutrition, said that the launch of the project implementation was aimed at improving nutrition for a healthy, productive and resilient population.

Lloren commended other stakeholders that provided invaluable input to the development of the project, adding that their effort helped to ensure that the work aligned with the government’s priorities in obtaining optimal nutrition for all citizens.

The Bauchi, Kebbi and Sokoto governments thanked USAID for the project and committed to supporting it in order to tackle malnutrition in their states.