Gombe secures loan to address malnutrition clinics; Partners CS-SUNN

Gombe state is among eight others in the country that will secure a World Bank Loan with the aim of addressing malnutrition in the land.

Already, the State Government has concluded plans to reactivate all nutrition clinics in all the health facilities of Government in the State beginning with the State Specialist Hospital which only needs to be boosted up.

Commissioner for Health in Gombe state, Dr. Kennedy Ishaya stated this during a courtesy call paid to him by the Civil Society Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN), Gombe State chapter.

According to the Commissioner, with the growing indices of malnutrition in the country, coupled with crises in the North-East and North-Central, (Nigeria’s food basket), there is looming danger of food crises next year if urgent steps are not taken to address the conflicts that are capable of negatively affecting food production.

He said an office has already been set up to that effect with a Project Manager who will also serve as the State’s Focal Person to be appointed soon.

He described the visit as very timely considering the fact that malnutrition is a reality in Gombe state but that the visit and concern shown by CS-SUNN, will give the Government a direction to follow in addressing the issue.

“Nigeria’s case is not that there is no food but the existence of ignorance or lack of knowledge on the correct mix to the abundant food available in the country,” Dr. Kennedy stated.

Dr. Kennedy, who expressed gratitude for the awareness being created by CS-SUNN in Gombe State assured that the Ministry will look into the issue closely and cooperate with the organization through cordial partnership in addressing malnutrition.

Earlier in her address, the Gombe State Coordinator of CS-SUNN, Comfort M Ali (Mrs.) said the organization is pursuing its goal by engaging Government and non-state actors to raise awareness, sustain commitment and actions to effectively tackle under nutrition in Nigeria.

“Our visit is to familiarize our network with your ministry with the aim of looking at possible areas of collaboration and partnership in addressing nutrition challenges among the populace especially the vulnerable groups,” Mrs. Ali emphasized.

The team also visited the State Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs where they were received by the Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Suleiman Ibrahim.  The Ministry also pledged its readiness to partner with the Organization as soon as it is availed of the types of programmes and the roles the ministry could play.