Arjan de Wagt, UNICEF’s Chief Nutritionist has called on Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), to support and give out a helping hand in the implementation of the National Policy on Food and Nutrition (NPFN).
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NPFN is a 10-year blueprint for eradicating malnutrition for sustainable economic growth and development in Nigeria.
In Abuja, on Monday, Arjan de Wagt told NAN that the policy had potential to address malnutrition and extreme hunger among children, pregnant and lactating mothers.
He said that every MDA should partner with the relevant ministries to ensure its implementation.
NAN recalled that the Federal Ministry of Budget and National Planning had in March 10 reviewed the policy to address emerging concerns in the science, programme of food and nutrition activities in the country, which was done with the view of scaling up high impact and cost effective nutrition interventions to stem the upsurge of malnutrition, especially among vulnerable groups.
Wagt said also that Nutrition was too important to be left in the hands of one ministry and urged stakeholders to support the effort of the Federal Government.
“NPFN is a multi-sectorial policy; which is not just for the Ministry of Health but all ministries.
“We can begin by thinking about introducing curriculums in primary school on how to teach children about good nutrition.
“Children can be good teachers themselves; a child who knows can also share it with his parent.
“That is what the policy is all about that every sector should do their part, fulfil their mandate to improve the nutrition situation in Nigeria,’’ he said.
According to the UNICEF chief, implementation of the nutrition policy is one of the areas targeted in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
He also called on the three tiers of government to start up awareness on exclusive breast feeding, noting that; such effort would also improve nutrition in the country.
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