Nigeria Must Deepen Partnership To Fight Malnutrition –Tinubu’s Aide

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Health, Dr Uju Rochas-Anwukah, has said Nigeria needs stronger collaboration with donor organisations and development partners to effectively tackle malnutrition and meet national nutrition targets.

She spoke yesterday in Abuja at the Alive & Thrive Nigeria Project closeout and dissemination event organised by FHI 360.

Rochas-Anwukah said donor support had been crucial in improving Maternal, Infant and Young Child Nutrition across seven states since 2022, noting that their efforts aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s agenda to deliver interventions to grassroots communities.

According to her, the Federal Government values partners “who align their work with national priorities”, adding that Alive & Thrive had delivered “tangible outcomes” under the leadership of Dr Victor Ogbodo.
She said the programme’s achievements would be communicated to the President and Vice President, stressing that partners working sincerely to reduce malnutrition were “invaluable”.

“Our strength lies in partnership and collaboration,” she said. “Women and communities must take ownership of these interventions to ensure sustainability.”

Chairman of the House Committee on Nutrition and Food Security, Hon Chike Okafor, said Alive & Thrive had supported Nigeria in improving feeding practices for mothers and children, especially in vulnerable communities.

He noted that in the past four years, the organisation had mobilised resources locally and internationally to run nutrition programmes in several states, while also providing a new roadmap for future interventions.

Okafor said the committee had strengthened collaboration with MDAs, civil society groups and development partners, and was expanding engagement to state assemblies and all 775 LGAs.

“We are working with partners such as UNICEF and the Gates Foundation to improve nutrition and food security nationwide,” he said.

Earlier, the Country Representative and Project Director of Alive & Thrive, Dr Victor Ogbodo, called for renewed commitment to strengthening systems, scaling interventions and empowering communities.

He highlighted mass media and behavioural change campaigns that have improved knowledge and practices around infant and young child nutrition.

“As we close this chapter, the gains we have made must not only endure but expand,” Ogbodo said.

He commended the Federal Government, state health boards, civil society groups and the Gates Foundation for their support, describing the organisation’s work as a collective effort.

Executive Chairman of the Bauchi State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Rilwanu Muhammad, said the initiative had significantly improved maternal and child nutrition through staff training, facility upgrades, media sensitisation and policy support.

He said the success recorded in one facility led the Bauchi State Government to extend similar interventions to two more centres, while Food and Nutrition Committees had been established in 15 of the state’s 20 LGAs.

Muhammad also noted training on Multiple Micronutrient Supplements, which provide 15 essential nutrients to support maternal health.