Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, has inaugurated the State Council on Nutrition with a commitment to integrate nutrition-focused planning into the State’s development agenda.
Speaking while Inaugurating the Council at Nvosi in Isialangwa South LGA, after an overview of the Nutrition 774 (N774) initiative from a delegation of the National Technical Working Group, led by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Health and Focal Person on Nutrition, Dr. Uju Anwukah, Governor Otti described nutrition as the foundation of public health, productivity and long-term economic growth.
The Governor noted that the group advocacy visit to the State has served as a timely call for Abia to adopt a deliberate tracking and reporting of nutrition indicators across all sectors.
He disclosed that Abia State under his administration has committed 15 percent of its annual budget to healthcare and 20 percent to education in the last two years, totalling 35 percent of the entire budget to critical human capital development sectors.
He directed the Commissioner for Budget and Planning to ensure that nutrition-related programmes are clearly tagged and captured in future budgets, starting with the 2025 fiscal year.
He urged members of the newly inaugurated Nutrition Council to ensure effective coordination and performance tracking.
Earlier while presenting an overview of the initiative, the SSA to the President on Nutrition and Focal Person for the Nutrition 774 initiative, Dr Uju Anwukah, described malnutrition as a global menace which contributes to about 45% of child deaths and drives intergenerational poverty, adding that Nigeria presently ranks 1st in Africa and 2nd globally in malnutrition.
Dr Anwukah explained that Nigeria ranks second globally in malnutrition-related burden, with an annual economic loss of about $1.5 billion and emphasised that the N774 programme is a government-led, community-driven initiative designed to deliver coordinated and sustainable nutrition interventions at all levels.
She disclosed that the Nutrition -774 initiative was conceived to provide unified response to Nigeria malnutrition crisis, calling for the setting up of Nutrition department in relevant MDAS including Health, Agriculture, Budget and planing, women Affairs, State Health care Board.
Dr Anwukah who lauded the Governor Otti-led administration for its reforms in health, education and infrastructure, also applauded Abia’s increasing budgetary allocation for nutrition from ₦231 million in 2022 to ₦1.35 billion in 2024.
Meanwhile, the Council is to be chaired by the Governor, with membership from various Ministries.
