The Akwa Ibom House Committee on Nutrition and Food Security says it has taken its campaign on combating malnutrition to the 31 local government areas (LGAs).

The committee chairman, Moses Essien, said on Tuesday that the committee would collaborate with stakeholders and development partners to ensure good nutrition, especially for children and adolescents.

Mr Essien urged the 31 legislative councils to domesticate nutrition and food security committees in their LGAs.

The lawmaker, representing Ibiono Ibom State Constituency, said there was a need for all the stakeholders to get involved in the campaign to eradicate malnutrition.

He said that since the inauguration of the committee by the National Assembly and Akwa Ibom Assembly, there was a need to have the same committee at the local government legislative councils.

According to him, the National Demographic Health Survey 2023/2024 statistics show that 24.1 per cent of children in the state are stunted and 22.6 per cent are underweight.

“These indicators show the level of malnutrition in the state. That calls for serious concern among critical stakeholders.

“It was the resolution by the National Assembly that combating malnutrition and food insecurity cannot be left in the hands of the executive alone.

“Hence, the establishment of the National Legislative Network on Nutrition and Food Security.

“Leaders of the local government legislative councils should appoint chairmen and members of the committees and ensure their inauguration,” Mr Essien said.

He said a workshop would soon be organised in collaboration with some development partners to enhance capacity building for committee members.

In a remark, the state nutrition officer, Idongesit Umo, urged the committee to ensure the budgeted funds for nutrition and food security were released on time to implement activities to combat malnutrition.

Mr Umoh said combating malnutrition should be everybody’s business and not left to the executive arm of government alone.

Speaking on behalf of the council chairs, the chairman of Ika LGA promised that all the councils would partner with the committee to combat the scourge in the state.

(NAN)