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The Kaduna State Government has reaffirmed its dedication to combating malnutrition in the state.
The chairman of the State Steering Committee on Food and Nutrition, Mukhtar Ahmed, made this commitment at a one-day nutrition stakeholder meeting on Thursday in Kaduna.
Ahmed said the Kaduna government has taken significant steps to address malnutrition.
He listed the steps to include creating a dedicated budget line for nutrition in the 2025 appropriation bill at the health ministry and the primary healthcare board.
Ahmed added that the state now has a designated Chairman for the House Committee on Nutrition, and desk officers have been appointed across all ministries, departments, and agencies to coordinate nutrition efforts.
He equally said that a substantial allocation of N50 million has been earmarked for nutrition activities at the primary healthcare board. He congratulated the state’s dedicated team and partners for the significant progress reflected in the recently released National Demographic Health Survey (NDHS) 2023-2024 data.
The chairman said the achievements demonstrated the hard work and unwavering dedication of the nutrition team, MDAs, and development partners.
He also highlighted notable improvements made by Kaduna state in 2023-2024, including a decline in stunting rates, adding that its severe cases have decreased to 16.8 per cent, down from 22.10 per cent in 2018.
Ahmed said there was a reduction in severe wasting to 0.3 per cent, a decrease from 1.1 per cent in 2018. He also said the decrease in severe underweight has fallen to 6.0 per cent, down from 7.60 per cent in 2018.
Ahmed emphasised that the achievements were commendable and deserving recognition for the collaborative efforts that have brought the state far.
The Commissioner, however, said that as the state celebrates its successes, it must remain vigilant, emphasising that the journey toward eliminating malnutrition is ongoing.
