The Federal Government has unveiled a National Guideline to bridge existing gaps in all the multi-sectoral approaches on adequate Nutrition in the country with a view to checking issues of stunting, wasting and anemia among women and children.
The Honourable Minister of Women Affairs, Barrister (Mrs) Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye at the Launch of the National Guidelines on Women and Girls’ Empowerment for Optimal Nutrition held today in Abuja, stated that the document aims at promoting healthy living as well as longevity, not only among women and girls’ but the entire Nigerian populace.
The Minister informed that the country has the third highest record of wasted children in the world, with malnutrition being responsible for deaths of many of them before the age of 5 and a high percentage of its women of reproductive age also suffering from anemia.
Optimal nutrition is not just a health imperative but a basic human right as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, to which Nigeria is a signatory. The consequences of malnutrition, including cognitive impairments, reduced productivity and chronic illnesses, can result in significant Gross Domestic Product (GDP) losses of 2.3% annually, translating into substantial economic burdens, she said.
Barrister Kennedy-Ohanenye explained that it is in recognition of this fact, that the Ministry, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the present administration commenced its sustainable empowerment programmes to equip women and girls’ as key drivers in the malnutrition echo system on skill acquisition and entrepreneurship so as to enable them earn and cater adequately for the food needs of their families, among others.
The Minister explained that our interventions extend beyond nutrition to encompass comprehensive empowerment strategies. We have developed and disseminated the National Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) Policy and Action Plan, procured and distributed empowerment materials, provided agricultural training and renovated skill acquisition centers to equip women with the tools they need to thrive.
While urging participants at the Launch to make full use of the Guidelines to ensure optimal nutrition for women and girls’ in the country, Barrister Kennedy-Ohanenye thanked Donor Agencies, Development Partners and other relevant Stakeholders for their contributions towards the production of the Manual, adding that the Ministry remains committed to ensuring the realization of the policies, programmes and objectives of government in line with its mandate.
In a welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, Ambassador Gabriel Aduda stated that the Launch of the Guideline marks a critical milestone for the integration of women and girls’ concerns for optimal nutrition which were not adequately covered by other existing policies.
Represented by the Director, Planning, Research and Statistics, Mr. Tony Iwere, he expressed the Ministry’s discomfort over the high rate of malnutrition of women and children in Nigeria as reflected in the statistics on stunting, wasting, anaemia and micro-nutrient deficiency among others, noting that the Booklet tallies with the on-going efforts of achieving food security, gender sensitive society as well as inclusivity in National Economic Growth and Development.
Amb. Aduda stated further that in line with the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led Administration, the Ministry is committed to building a just society in which women, girls and other vulnerable groups will enjoy the same opportunities, rights and obligations in all spheres of life, devoid of discrimination; where their needs and concerns are mainstreamed equitably into all sectors of National Development.
Speaking on the Nutrition Situation in Nigeria, the Nutrition Focal Officer, Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Mrs Chito Nelson explained that stunting is an indicator of chronic malnutrition and disclosed that 149 million children under age 5 are stunted across the world, with 95 percent of them coming from Asia and Africa.
While informing that under- nutrition leads to early death, Mrs Nelson stressed the need for intentional empowerment of Nigerian women and girls to enable them gain power over their finances as this will go a long way towards promoting optimal nutrition as well as human capital development for the country.
Signed
Mrs Grace Njoku
Head, Information and Public Relations.
