The Bauchi State Government has unveiled the State’s 2024-2028 Multi-sectoral Action Plan for Food and Nutrition, a strategic approach to combat malnutrition and improve food security in the state.
Bauchi State deputy governor Auwal Jatau, said the state is poised to implement the National Strategic Plan of Action for Nutrition to help the state move forward.
The deputy governor, who is also the chairman of the State Nutrition Council (SNC), noted that Governor Bala Mohammed’s current administration has taken crucial steps to accelerate the reduction of hunger and malnutrition in the state.
To him, having realized that malnutrition and hunger cannot be eliminated through efforts of one sector, the state government has begun the development of nutrition-sensitive interventions in the agriculture, health, social protection, early child development, education, and water and sanitation sectors, in order to achieve the Zero Hunger Challenge (ZHC) including zero stunting among children under the age of five years.
He said to address malnutrition and hunger, the state government has made adequate budgetary provision in the annual budget for nutrition programmes such as Community Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM), Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) among others.
“It is for this reason that the State Government has taken the bold step to produce a holistic costed State strategic plan of action for Nutrition in a process where all relevant sectors at all levels were involved. Nine priority areas have been identified that are considered key to improving Nutritional status in the State.
“In particular, the plan also identifies the need for strengthened collaboration between sectors and improved financing and accountability mechanisms to achieve the ambitious targets.
“This costed plan will also serve as a resource mobilization tool for the State and subsequently an allocation guide for effective implementation as well as proper program monitoring and evaluation.
“The successful implementation of this strategic plan of action will therefore depend on the sustained commitment of the different levels of government, development partners, the private sector and other stakeholders. Bauchi State has made significant investments towards improving the nutritional outcomes of its children,” the deputy governor said.
Jatau said the plan would be an advocacy tool for improved nutrition financing in Bauchi. It incorporates monitoring and evaluation, accountability, and learning components for easy progress tracking and impact evaluation.
On her part, the commissioner for Budget, Planning and Multilateral Coordination, Amina Katagum, represented by the permanent secretary, Jibrin Yusuf said the action plan was developed with the support of development partners to tackle malnutrition in the state.
