By Gami Tadanyigbe
Food Hygiene Initiative of Nigeria (FHIN), an Non-Governmental Organisation, NGO, has called on the Federal Government to adequately fund malnutrition centers for the promotion of health in the country.
The Director General of the organisation, Amb. Jonah Karimu made the call during a one-day sensitisation meeting on ‘Food Fortification for Health Organisations organised by Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) in Abuja on Tuesday.
The NGO, committed to the promotion of health and the fight against food and water borne diseases in Nigeria, disclosed that cases of malnutrition was rampant in rural areas therefore requires immediate attention.
Karimu said adequate release of funds would not only tackle the menace of malnutrition but would also improve on the standard of living of the people especially women and children in the rural communities.
“The sensitisation is aimed at advocating the need to stimulate communities to scale up nutrition with specific focus on maternal and child nutrition in the country.
“This is because malnutrition is a development issue which is rampant at the rural areas and which needs to be addressed holistically.
“Therefore one sector alone can not address the issue of malnutrition in the country, hence the need for collaboration with all relevant sectors.
“We call on the Federal Government to adequately fund malnutrition centers for the promotion of health in the country,” he said.
However, he noted that malnutrition-related deaths among children was uncalled for, adding that there was the need to improve on balanced diet for children to improve on their standard of living.
The sensitisation meeting brought together nutritional focal persons from various health organisations in the country.
The sensitisation also featured overview of food fortification efforts, manifesto briefing, activities and objectives of each organisation with question and answers from other participants.
