The Akwa Ibom House Committee on Nutrition and Food Security says it has taken its campaign on combating malnutrition in the state to the 31 Local Government Areas (LGAs).
The Chairman of the committee, Mr Moses Essien, said on Tuesday that the committee would work in collaboration with stakeholders and development partners toward ensuring good nutrition, especially for the children and adolescents.
Essien urged the 31 Legislative Councils to domesticate nutrition and food security committees in their LGAs.
The lawmaker, representing Ibiono Ibom State Constituency, said there was need for all the stakeholders in the state to get involved in the campaign to eradicate malnutrition.
He said since the inauguration of the committee by the National Assembly and Akwa Ibom Assembly, there was need to have the same committee at the Local Government Legislative Councils.
According to him, the National Demographic Health Survey 2023/2024 statistics shows that 24.1 per cent of children in the state are stunted and 22.6 per cent are underweight.
“These indicators show the level of malnutrition in the state. That calls for serious concern among critical stakeholders.
“This is because malnutrition has severe consequences on the child’s health, leading to infant mortality.
“It was the resolution by the National Assembly that combating malnutrition and food insecurity cannot be left in the hands of the executive alone.
“Hence, the establishment of the National Legislative Network on Nutrition and Food Security.
“It is our belief that each Legislative Council in the 31 LGAs must also domesticate nutrition and food security committees at the third tier of government.
“Leaders of the Local Government Legislative Councils should appoint chairmen and members of the committees and ensure their inauguration,” Essien said.
He said that a workshop would soon be organised, in collaboration with some development partners, to enhance capacity building for members of the committee.
In a remark, the state Nutrition Officer, Dr Idongesit Umo, urged the committee to ensure that the budgeted funds for nutrition and food security were released on time for the implementation of activities to combat malnutrition.
Umoh further said that combating malnutrition in the state and country should be everybody’s business and not left for the executive arm of government alone.
“When we talk of nutrition we look at the most vulnerable, we look at children under five and pregnant women and the adolescents.
“I’m sure, if we do this, the next time the demographic survey would be released, the issue of Akwa Ibom having 24.1 per cent stunted and 22.6 per cent in terms of children who are under weight will change for better,” Umoh said.
Speaking on behalf of the council Chairmen, the Chairman of Ika LGA promised that all the council chairmen would partner with the committee to combat the scourge in the state.
Nwoko urged everyone to return to agriculture, saying that the root cause of malnutrition is the failure by the people to get serious with agriculture.