To address Nigeria’s growing food and nutrition crisis, the World Bank, Nutrition International, and other stakeholders have called on the government to implement interventions to tackle malnutrition.

This call was made at a three-day collaborative meeting between the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), and state nutrition managers on Tuesday in Abuja.

Ritgak Tilley-Gyado, senior health specialist at the World Bank, emphasised the need for a multi-faceted approach to address malnutrition in Nigeria.

She highlighted that the World Bank has supported the ministry’s nutrition department in reviewing the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF) facilities recently assessed by NPHCDA.

She said the review aimed to prioritise the selection of facilities with the right manpower and infrastructure.

Ms Tilley-Gyado stressed that Nigeria required a collaborative effort beyond the federal government’s capacity to tackle malnutrition.

She noted that support from state governments, local governments, development partners, and the private sector was crucial, with funding requirements in millions of dollars.

Osita Okonkwo, country director of Nutrition International, underscored the importance of improving coverage of Maternal Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) interventions.

He emphasised that increased coverage would enhance access to interventions for women and children, ultimately improving universal health coverage services.

Ladidi Bako-Aiyegbusi, director of the nutrition department at the health ministry, highlighted the government’s efforts to improve nutrition.

“The government has implemented strategies, including a coordination team that interacts with stakeholders quarterly to discuss challenges and progress,” she said.

Ms Bako-Aiyegbusi, while stressing the need for breastfeeding in the first 1,000 days of life, added that the government had trained over 2,000 master trainers on maternal, infant, and young child feeding practices.

(NAN)