By: Monday Danladi, BauchiI
t has been observed and laminated that Bauchi State remains one of the States with a high burden of malnutrition, with an increasing of stunting among children Under-Five years old, which raises significant concern.
The observation was made at the end of a meeting organized for Members of the Bauchi State House of Assembly by the State Committee on Food and Nutrition, Ministry of Budget, Economic Planning and Multilateral Coordination in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on the adequate budgetary allocation and release for nutrition and other PHC
cases.
In a communique signed and issued by all Thirty-one Members of the Assembly the meeting acknowledged cases of malnutrition, especially among children, are on the rise despite various
government initiatives.
It further observed there is a pressing need to increase budgetary allocations for nutrition programming within the state, while the government has made commendable efforts in expanding the health workforce, more personnel are needed, particularly in nutrition programming.
It was also observed that public awareness regarding nutrition remains low and needs to be significantly improved just as Water and sanitation concerns, such as the need to upgrade open wells by providing covers and raising their surfaces, require urgent attention.
There is also a need for a dedicated Department of Nutrition Services within the State Primary Health Care Board (SPHCB) to ensure better coordination of nutrition-related efforts.
Further, Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) involved in nutrition-sensitive and specific interventions should be tracked to ensure that allocated budgets are released timely and efficiently utilized.
Members across Constituencies with malnourished children should facilitate the production and distribution of Tom Brown Diet to help combat malnutrition.
The meeting then resolved and committed to address the identified challenges as the State Committee on Food Security and Nutrition, and the House Committee on Public Accounts with immediate effect to commence investigation on RUTF funds meant for the malnourished children in the state according to the state budget performance report of 2024, and report to the House.
The House Committee on Food Security & Nutrition, House Committee on Health
and House Committee on Appropriation are to work with relevant House Committees on the creation of a budget line for Nutrition activities across relevant MDAs and also increase the budgetary provision for Nutrition activities general in the state.
The House Committee on Public Service should liaise with development partners to ensure necessary legislation on the extension of paid maternity leave from three to six months with a view to giving our nursing mothers adequate time to exclusively breastfeed their children.
The House Committee on Local Government Affairs to liaise with the Hon
Commissioner of Local Government Affairs for the establishment of a joint
committee of representatives of the House and the Chairmen of Local Government Councils where regular monitoring, supervision, and discussions with a view to mobilize additional, adequate and effective funding of nutrition activities in the state.
The House Committee on Local Government Affairs to ensure the creation of nutrition budget line across 20 LGAs of the state.
The House Committees on Local Government Affairs, Food security & Nutrition and Health to liaise with the Hon Commissioner of Local Government Affairs to follow up with Local Government Chairmen on procurement of functional hemoglobin testing machines across Primary Health Care facilities without functional hemoglobin machines.
The meeting also recommended that the State Government should contribute to the Child Nutrition Fund, which will be
sourced from budget allocations, individuals and private sector contributions.
Also, the Ministry of Health should work closely with the Ministry of Finance and Budget, Economic Planning and Multilateral Coordination to ensure that nutrition allocations are ring-fenced and protected from budget cuts.
There should be regular monitoring and reporting mechanisms to assess the impact of nutrition financing on reducing malnutrition rates in the state.
Community-based initiatives, such as the production and distribution of locally made complementary foods, should be expanded to reach vulnerable households.
Increased advocacy and sensitization efforts are needed to encourage household and community-level nutrition practices that promote child health and development.