The National Economic Council (NEC) has urged State governments to each set up a food and nutrition security task force to address the problems associated with floods and boost children’s nutrition.
Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Mohammed Ali-Pate revealed this while briefing State House Correspondents at the end of this month’s council meeting, presided over by Vice President Kashim Shettima.
He said doing so will enhance coordination among the central and sub-national governments.
He said: ‘Following the discussions on flooding and food systems, there was a conversation around the state of nutrition in Nigeria because nutrition is key to Nigeria’s human capital development, and the need for federal government’s efforts to deliver relief and also to be complimented by the state government.
‘Key decisions were taken to include a food and nutrition security taskforce which we have already established at the federal government level but the state will also mirror which is a multi-sectoral gov
ernance coordination platform, to ensure that we address the challenge of acute malnutrition, and over time the challenge that we are faced with as a country.’
The Minister also disclosed that NEC also set up a task force under the Chairmanship of the Gombe State Governor, to help achieve the government’s objective of completely eradicating polio in five affected States.
‘NEC passed a resolution which Nigeria had succeeded in eliminating the wild poliovirus but there are remnants in a few states. Five affected states and others are circulating polioviruses and a task force committee was established by the NEC to be chaired by the Governor of Gombe State, comprising the Governors of Kano, Zamafara, Sokoto, Kebbi, and Katsina.
‘Others are the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Director General, Primary HealthCare Agency, NEC Secretariat, representatives of UNICEF, WHO, Special Adviser to the President on NEC and the representatives of Aliko Dangote Foundation as well as the Director General,
Nigeria Governors Forum,’ he stated
The standing committee is to report monthly on polio eradication, immunization, and also efforts to revive the primary healthcare system.
Source: Voice of Nigeria