Governor State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya CON, has on Tuesday, launched the Gombe State Policy on Food Nutrition and Gombe State Multi-sectoral Strategic Plan of Action on Food Nutrition as a step-up action to tackle the problem of malnutrition in all forms in Gombe state.
While launching the policy and the action plan at an event held at the Gombe International Hotel, Governor Inuwa Yahaya said both the policy and the action plan demonstrated his administration’s unwavering commitment to improving the health of the people by reversing the negative trend of malnutrition in the state.
Represented by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Manassah Daniel Jatau, the Governor explained that the policy on food nutrition was earlier approved by the State Executive Council in order to key into the Federal Government policy on food and nutrition and the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations.
“The launch of the Gombe State Food and Nutrition Policy and Multi-sectoral Plan of Action 2023-2027, meticulously scrutinized and approved by the State EXCO, demonstrates Gombe’s commitment to aligning with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and the national policy of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration”, the Governor said.
“Basically, the launch of the Gombe State Policy on Food Nutrition and the Multi-sectoral Strategic Plan of Action on Food Nutrition marks a significant stride in the government’s commitment to combating malnutrition. This comprehensive approach demonstrates our dedication to improving the health and well-being of our citizens, ensuring a brighter and healthier future for all, especially the children”, he added.
In his remarks, the Commissioner, Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Alh. Salihu Baba Alkali, informed the gathering that the domestication of the nutrition policy is to help in achieving the desired level of food nutrition and food security amongst the people especially the vulnerable group of children, adolescents, women and the elderly.
He said Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya is the first to approve the policy in the North East and appreciated the support from UNICEF and other donor agencies towards achieving the targeted goal.
The representative of the Chief Field Office, UNICEF Bauchi, Mrs Philomena Irene, noted that nutrition is a multi-sectoral and multi- disciplinary issue involving various sectors including health, agriculture, science and technology, education, social protection, water and sanitation thereby improving economic growth.
She said, “the food and nutrition policy we are launching today will guide Gombe State to address the hindrances to food and nutrition security from individual, household, community, local government to state levels. It steers the identification, design and implementation of intervention activities across relevant sectors.”
She commended Gombe State for contributing 50 Million Naira as a counterpart contribution for the child nutrition fund to address all forms of malnutrition particularly wasting, anaemia and stunting.
In their separate remarks, the policy consultant Dr. Nigel Yusuf Bachama, and the facilitator of the policy, Mrs Jessica Bartholomew, both gave an overview of the food and nutrition policy and the Multi-sectoral strategic plan of action for food and nutrition, commending the government of Gombe State for being a pace setter in domesticating the policy.
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