The Gombe State government has launched a five-year food and nutrition policy and the state’s Multi-sectoral Strategic Action Plan on Food and Nutrition (GMSAFN), aimed at improving the nutritional status of residents of the state, especially children.
Speaking at the launch of the policy Tuesday, Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, expressed concern over the negative trend of malnutrition in the state and pledged to provide the necessary resources to ensure effective implementation of the policy to address the challenges.
Represented by the deputy governor, Dr Manassah Daniel Jatau, he lamented that despite concerted efforts, reports and data confirmed that the state was yet to be rid of the undesirable phenomenon and its adverse effects on the health of the people.
Our correspondent reports that the GMSAFN is a comprehensive framework aimed at tackling malnutrition in all its forms.
The policy, which is supported by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), focuses on nutrition-specific interventions such as improving infant and young child feeding, promoting the use of micronutrient supplements and treating acute malnutrition.
In a speech, the UNICEF Bauchi Country Director, Dr Tushar Rane, commended the state government for contributing N50 million as counterpart contribution to the Child Nutrition Fund to address all forms of malnutrition, especially wasting, anaemia and stunting in the state.
Represented by the Nutrition Specialist, Philomena Irene, he said the policy would guide the Gombe State government to address the barriers to food and nutrition security from the individual, household, community, local government to the state level.
