Nasarawa State Government has commenced plans to establish Nutrition Department in all Ministries, Departments and Agencies in the state.
The State Head of Civil Service Mrs Abigail Waya gave this indication during an advocacy meeting on the creation of Nutrition Department in MDAs in Lafia the state capital.
The meeting which was organized by a non governmental organization, Civil Society Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria brought together permanent secretaries and heads of relevant agencies in Nasarawa State to brainstorm on ways to create department of Nutrition in the various ministries as part of efforts to address malnutrition.
Chairman Nasarawa State Committee on Nutrition Mr. Emmanuel Alidzi while addressing the gathering said cases of malnutrition in the state had continued to be on the rise which according him, needed proactive approach to stem the tide.
He called on the stakeholders to step up awareness campaigns to the grassroot on the need for people to adopt new lifestyle towards consumption of the appreciate classes of food.
Permanent Secretary of the state Ministry of Health Dr. Janet Anbazo stressed the need for more funding for nutrition programmes given the devastating effects of the condition on the economic growth and human development.
The State Head of Civil Service Mrs Abigail Waya remarked that to ensure effective service delivery all the nutrition line ministries and agencies in the state had been repositioned with the required experts in the management of malnutrition.
Programme Manager Civil Society Scaling up Nutrition in Nigeria, Dr.Goodness Chidi pointed out that cases of stunted growth, wasting and other conditions related to malnutrition especially in children had been on the rise in most communities in Nasarawa State.
Dr. Goodness Chidi identified poverty and lack of awareness as some of the major causes of malnutrition.