NIGERIA COLLABORATES WITH GLOBAL HEALTH EFFORTS TO ADDRESS MALNUTRITION AND FOOD INSECURITY CHALLENGES
The Federal Government of Nigeria has lent its anchorage support to the partnership of the Nutrition Society of Nigeria with the Grand Challenges Nigeria (GCNg) Project, a global health initiative tackling malnutrition and food insecurity in Nigeria. Vice President Kashim Shettima unveiled this commitment at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Friday 26th July 2024. Shettima emphasized the need for constructive action over protests, acknowledging the hardship faced by Nigerians due to economic reforms. He called for diplomacy, engagement, and patience, highlighting the government’s commitment to the “Nutrition 774 Initiative”. (statehouse.gov.ng)
The GCNg Project aims to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion, in addressing public health and food system challenges. Shettima urged the NSN to innovate and collaborate with the government and stakeholders. The Project Leader, Prof. Hafiz Abubakar, requested government ownership and support, and Godwin Bamsa, the Senior Programmes Manager for Grand Challenges Nigeria, noted the initiative’s global impact, with over $1.6 billion invested in health and innovation projects across 118 countries since 2003.
Glytabs Consulting commends the collaboration of the government with NSN, the leading organization for Nutrition Professionals in Nigeria. This is a step in the right direction towards contributing to addressing malnutrition in Nigeria, given that the Society consists of knowledgeable and seasoned professionals with the capacity to help change the nutrition narrative in the country.
Meanwhile, the National Council for Food and Nutrition (NCFN) has launched a new initiative to combat the present food insecurity and health concerns. The Vice President, Kashim Shettima, who is the Chair of NCFN, emphasized the importance of collaboration in addressing Nigeria’s nutrition crisis at a meeting in Abuja on Tuesday 16th July 2024, where the Council approved the new measures which include a National Nutrition Dashboard. The aim is to provide better oversight and coordination of nutrition-related initiatives across the country as the Tinubu administration recognizes the urgency of the food crisis and is committed to addressing its underlying causes to develop a more resilient and sustainable food system. The Vice President praised the efforts of various ministries and stakeholders, highlighting the need for proactive participation and collaboration. He also assured development partners of the federal government’s willingness to work together to improve nutritional outcomes.
Glytabs Consulting commends this initiative as a promising endeavour towards the actualization of the journey to a “food and nutrition-secure” Nigeria and hopes that the initiative will be sustained to achieve its laudable objectives.
Image credit: instagram.com/theasovilla
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