By Hussaini Yero Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has described malnutrition as not only a public health crisis but also a major econom...
By Hussaini Yero
Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has described malnutrition as not only a public health crisis but also a major economic barrier and a serious threat to human capital development.
The governor stated this on Tuesday while launching the Zamfara State Nutrition 774 Initiative and inaugurating the State Council on Nutrition at the Government House, Gusau.
A statement by the governor’s spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, explained that the Nutrition 774 Initiative is a community-driven, multi-sectoral programme designed to improve nutritional outcomes across Nigeria’s 774 Local Government Areas.
The statement added that the newly inaugurated State Council on Nutrition will coordinate and oversee the implementation of sustainable nutrition programmes across Zamfara State.
In his address, Governor Lawal said the initiative marks a turning point in the state’s effort to tackle malnutrition, especially among children and women.
“We cannot build a secure, resilient, and prosperous Zamfara on a foundation of poor nutrition. An investment in the first 1,000 days of a child's life is the single most significant investment we can make in our state’s future,” he said.
He noted that the Nutrition 774 Initiative (N774) aligns with his administration’s Rescue Agenda, emphasising that nutrition cuts across health, agriculture, education, social protection, and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH).
Governor Lawal further announced that the State Council on Nutrition, made up of key commissioners and sector leaders, has been empowered to formulate policies, coordinate efforts, and supervise all nutrition-related activities in the state.
“One of the council’s key responsibilities is to drive the N774 Initiative across all local governments. This launch is a call to action. We are ready to collaborate with our national partners and provide leadership and resources to ensure the success and sustainability of the initiative,” the governor stated.
Earlier in her remarks, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Health, Mrs. Uju Rochas Anwukah, commended Governor Lawal’s administration for its achievements in the health sector, particularly its commitment to improving nutrition and public health.
She said the N774 Initiative aims to build a well-nourished and healthier Nigeria by strengthening both local and national nutrition systems.
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