The ministry of Budget and National Planning says it has created a “dedicated budget line” for nutrition in response to Nigeria’s malnutrition challenges.
Budget and National Planning minister, Udoma Udoma, suggested other “relevant ministries, departments and agencies at all levels” to fix a line for nutrition in their budgets.
It comes as the ministry and the Nutrition Society of Nigeria flag off the third annual Nutrition Week on Monday in Abuja to raise awareness nationwide about malnutrition among Nigerian children.
Udoma said estimates showing up to 2.5million children under age five affected by severe acute malnutrition was “worrisome and calls for emergency measures to reverse the trend.”
Malnutrition has been described an emergency over worsening figures in the North East and North West.
A recent survey found 44 in 100 children aged under five years too short for their age, far more than the tolerable limit of 10 in 100 children.
Many children suffering severe acute malnutrition face death, said Udoma.
“Even those who survive could end up with lower intelligence quotient and impaired cognitive ability, with resultant negative effects on their performance in school and productivity in later life,” said Udoma.
The week is also to see the launch of a multi-sector plan of action on food and nutrition.
Meanwhile, a revised national policy on food and nutrition is to be validated.
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