“When you see us fixing roads in Aba and Umuahia, cleaning up the environment, and investing in healthcare, it’s because we understand that well-fed citizens are less likely to fall sick.”
The Abia State Government, under the leadership of Gov. Alex Otti, wastes no time in domesticating national action plans aimed at improving the wellbeing of the people and residents of the state.
Since assumption of office, several Federal Government’s programmes and initiatives, designed to impact citizens, especially women, children, and the elderly, have received prompt attention, often through the Office of the Wife of the Governor, Mrs Priscilla Otti.
Recently, the State Government welcomed the Nigeria Consumer Credit Corporation (CREDICORP), a Federal Government’s agency, for the launch of its informal sector credit scheme, benefiting 10,000 market women in Aba, the commercial hub of the state.
The Managing Director of CREDICORP, Mr Uzoma Nwagba, revealed that the initiative was designed by the Federal Government to enable Nigerians access low-interest loans to grow their businesses.
Again, in line with his broader agenda to improve healthcare across the state, Gov. Otti on Tuesday, July 22, inaugurated the Abia State Council on Nutrition to implement the Nutrition 774 (N-774) initiative of the Federal Government.
The council, chaired by the governor himself, was constituted to provide overall leadership, policy direction, coordination, and oversight for the effective implementation and sustainability of nutritional activities across the state, in line with the policy directives of the Federal Government’s N-774 programme.
The inauguration of the council followed a visit by the National Technical Working Group, led by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Health and Focal Person on Nutrition 774, Dr Uju Rochas-Anwukah.
At the event, Gov. Otti said that the advocacy visit would awaken the state’s consciousness to become more intentional in tracking and reporting nutrition indicators across various sectors of the economy.
He said: “Clearly, when you talk about nutrition, the initiative is very good and we welcome it. The heavy investments we are making ,15 per cent of our total budget in the last two years allocated to healthcare, and 20 per cent to education, represent a whopping 35 per cent of the entire budget.
“When you see us fixing roads in Aba and Umuahia, cleaning up the environment, and investing in healthcare, it’s because we understand that well-fed citizens are less likely to fall sick. As such, these investments are proactive steps to reduce illness rates.
“What am I driving at? I’m saying that, as a government, we’ve taken deliberate decisions that produce the kind of outcomes you’re monitoring.
“However, we’ve not been intentional about tracking the numbers. If there’s one thing your visit has achieved, it’s motivating us to begin monitoring our data deliberately.”
He urged members of the council to ensure effective coordination and performance tracking, noting that’s such commitment represents a vital intervention.
While presenting an overview of Nutrition 774, Dr Rochas-Anwukah described it as a multi-sectoral, community-based programme established to improve nutritional outcomes across the 774 Local Government Areas of Nigeria.
She revealed that malnutrition is a global menace, contributing to about 45 per cent of child deaths and fueling inter-generational poverty, a challenge that requires a collective response. She regretted that Nigeria currently ranked second globally in the malnutrition index.
She further explained that the national framework, Nutrition 774, is a flagship programme of the National Council on Nutrition, designed to tackle the scourge through a multi-sectoral approach, involving health, food systems, education, social protection, water, and sanitation.
Rochas-Anwukah commended Gov. Otti for the transformational work he is doing in Abia, pointing out that his efforts speak volumes of his leadership capacity.
“We may not reside here, but even from Abuja, we hear the testimonies of progress. We sincerely commend you, this speaks volumes of your leadership and vision. Congratulations to you and your entire team.
“Your Excellency, malnutrition is a menace killing our people. It’s a global challenge.
“It doesn’t just exist in Nigeria, it’s a universal issue that transcends tribal, religious, and political boundaries. Tackling it requires a collective and collaborative effort across all sectors and levels of government.”
This is the reason it is advised that beyond government interventions, residents should strive to improve their daily food intake by consuming balanced diets. Efforts should be made to ensure that meals are composed of natural food sources containing all seven classes of nutrients.
More importantly, religious leaders, traditional rulers, the media, and social media influencers must join the campaign to educate the public about eating nutritious meals, especially for women, children, and the elderly.
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Ogbonnaya Ikokwu is a journalist and public affairs analyst writing from Umuahia.
