Partners and relevant stakeholders in the health sector in Kaduna state, has tasked the Kaduna state government on improved funding of nutrition.
This followed the malnutrition situation, which according to the stakeholders, the state government must ensure adequate funding, timely releases and cash backing of nutrition funds in the state by the government.
This was contained in a communique issued at the end of a 2-day review and pre-budget meeting on allocation, release and utilization of nutrition budget with key stakeholders from the legislature and Nutrition line ministries in kaduna State by the relevant stakeholders.
The stakeholders has also developed a Multi-Sectoral Strategic Plan of Action for Nutrition, KD-MSPAN 2020-2024, as part of strategy to address the scourge of malnutrition in the state.
According to the Director, Development Aid Coordination Kaduna State Planning and Budget Commission, Malam Salisu Baba Lawal, and other stakeholders, the strategic plan is to serve as a tool to implement nutrition activities by line Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, with effect from the 2020 approved budget with a resolved to achieve the 2020 fiscal year targets.
The Communique which was signed by the Director, Development Aid Coordination Kaduna State Planning and Budget Commission, Malam Salisu Baba Lawal and three other stakeholders, noted that holding regular meetings were therefore, crucial in line with good practices to plan and measure the performance of the MDAs.
According to the communique issued, the meeting was organized for stakeholders to ascertain the level of nutrition investment and budget performance in Kaduna state, to understand the current malnutrition situation, and for stakeholders to secure state commitments on increased domestic investment in high-impact, low-cost interventions as captured in the state specific plans of actions in the 2020 annual budget, and develop key advocacy asks for 2021.
The stakeholders who tasked Kaduna government on improved funding, observed that Kaduna state had recorded an impressive budget performance in the health sector in 2019, with 96% budget performance compared to the 30 % recorded in 2018.
“Partners support have played major role in supporting the State to improve the nutrition situation.
The participants however, observed that the NDHS 2018 placed Kaduna State in the 9th position among states with high burden of stunted children at 48.1%, higher than the national rate of 37%.
“There is the problem of cultural and religious misconceptions around early initiation of breastfeeding, exclusive breastfeeding, and minimum dietary diversification.
“Low level of key nutrition indices with only 35.9% practice early initiation of breastfeeding within one hour of birth, exclusive breastfeeding 19.7% (MICS 2017), and minimum dietary diversification 28% (NNHS 2018).
“There is also the problem of inadequate Nutritionists at the PHC and LGA levels with only 3 currently working one each in Igabi, Kagarko and Zaria LGAs.
“Currently, Nutrition budget line in the 2020 budget is domiciled at Ministry of Health for relevant MDAs to access through KADENAP. This creates multiple processes that could slow down timely access to allocated funds.
“Government should expedite action on recruitment and deployment of trained nutritionist to PHCs in 255 wards, in line with Nutrition Minimum Service package, and PHCUOR requirement for manpower.
“State Committee on Food and Nutrition and relevant stakeholders to advocate for prompt releases and cash backing of nutrition budget allocation.
“Kaduna House of Assembly to ensure adequate budgetary allocation for nutrition intervention and facilitate timely release and cash backing of allocated funds through oversight.
“State Primary Healthcare Development Agency to give data of LGAs with high prevalence of malnutrition to Ministry of Local Government Affairs, to prioritize budget allocation, releases, and cash backing”, the communique reads.
