In line with the Kwara State Government’s commitment to improving nutrition outcomes and strengthening primary healthcare delivery at the grassroots, Kwara State Primary Health Care Development Agency (KWSPHCDA) has convened an Accelerating Nutrition Results in Nigeria (ANRiN) Sustainability Meeting with key Local Government Area (LGA) stakeholders with appointment of LGA Chairmen’s spouses as Nutrition Champions across the state.
The meeting, which was held on Tuesday at Silvergate Hotel and Suites, served as a strategic platform for stakeholders to review progress, address challenges and explore sustainable pathways for advancing nutrition interventions targeted at improving maternal, infant and child health outcomes across the 16 LGAs of Kwara State.
In her opening remarks, Executive Secretary of KWSPHCDA, Prof. Nusirat Elelu, reiterated the pivotal role of adequate nutrition in the growth, development and overall well-being of children and emphasized that good nutrition is fundamental to building a healthy and productive society,
Professor Elelu noted that the future of the state is closely tied to the health and nutrition status of its children.
She stressed the need for a coordinated, multi-sectoral approach to nutrition programming and calling on stakeholders to ensure that no child is left behind.
Highlighting the importance of exclusive breastfeeding, the Executive Secretary described breast milk as the most complete and natural source of nutrition for newborns, which provides essential nutrients, boost immunity and protecting infants from preventable illnesses.
Professor Elelu urged the newly appointed Nutrition Champions to leverage their influence to drive behavioural change, mobilize communities
and support the effective implementation of nutrition programmes in their respective LGAs.
She disclosed that the Nutrition Champions would be officially inaugurated by the First Lady of Kwara State, Prof. Amb. Ambassador Olufolake AbdulRazaq, at a later date.
The Director, Primary Health Care Systems, Dr. Michael Oguntoye, facilitated a session on the Role of Nutrition Champions in Unlocking Funds for High-Impact Nutrition Interventions at the LGA Level.
He highlighted the importance of advocacy, strategic engagement and effective coordination in mobilizing resources to support nutrition programmes,
Dr Oguntoye maintained that the Nutrition Champions could play a critical role in influencing budgetary allocations, attracting partner support and ensuring that available resources are efficiently utilized to deliver measurable nutrition outcomes at the grassroots.
Providing a technical overview, the State Nutrition Officer, Dr. Gbenga Bankole, presented the current nutrition situation in Kwara State, explaining progress achieved, persistent gaps and priority areas for intervention.
He noted that adequate nutrition is critical to a child’s overall well-being, asserting that it helps prevent stunting, reduces susceptibility to illnesses and enhances a child’s ability to grow, learn and thrive alongside peers.
In a keynote lecture, Professor Adenike Jimoh from College of Medicine, Bingham University, Jos, delivered an extensive presentation on the “First 1,000 Days of Life” initiative and described it as the most crucial period for a child’s physical growth, brain development and long-term health outcomes.
She emphasized that nutrition during pregnancy and the first two years of life has lasting implications on learning capacity, productivity and quality of life.
The Keynote Speaker called on the Nutrition Champions to serve as strong advocates for good nutrition, support programmes that promote healthy eating and actively engage in community sensitization and awareness campaigns.
The First Lady of Ifepodun Local Government, Mrs Fatimah Yusuf, who spoke on behalf of the Local Government Chairmen Spouses, promised to work together with ANRiN and other relevant nutrition groups to achieve the common goal of a healthier Kwara, stressing that to have a healthy society all hands must be on deck.
The meeting recorded broad participation from stakeholders, including a representative from the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), State Committee on Food and Nutrition, Heads of Department of Health and Supervisory Councillors for Health from all the 16 Local Government Areas of Kwara State.
