The Kaduna State Planning and Budget Commission (PBC) on Tuesday asked nutrition sensitive Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs) to submit coasted planned activities for harmonisation and capturing in the 2020 budget.
The Permanent Secretary, PBC, Mahmud Yamusa, made the call in Kaduna, at the opening of a Mid-year Review Meeting of the state’s Committee on Food and Nutrition (SCFN).
Yamusa, who was represented by a Principal Planning Officer in the commission, Mrs. Pricilla Dariya, said that the coasted plan should be drawn from the state’s draft Multi-Sectoral Strategic Plan of Action for Food and Nutrition.
He said that preparations for the 2020 budget has began, stressing that the request for the coasted plan was to ensure adequate budgetary provisions for nutrition interventions in 2020.
The permanent secretary also called on the MDAs to prepare coasted high impact nutrition specific and sensitive activities for implementation between July and December 2019.
He explained that the meeting was organised for relevant MDAs to present achievements in the last six months, challenges, share best practices and chart the way forward for the next five months.
“You are all aware that the purpose of establishing the SCFN is to ensure that the problems of food and nutrition are better addressed at all levels where they are most relevant.
“The activities of the SCFN is key in tackling issues of malnutrition contributing to high under-five mortality in the state, which can be mitigated with proper nutrition.
“Hence the need for frequent liaison and coordination among the nutrition implementing MDAs in the state.
“I, therefore, urge you to work as a team in identifying gaps, challenges and chart a way forward for effective nutrition intervention in the state to save the lives of children,” he said.
Yamusa thanked all development partners, Civil Society-Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN) and other civil society organisations supporting the war against malnutrition in the state.
Also speaking, Mr Silas Ideva, state’s Coordinator, CS-SUNN called on members of the committee to effectively track progress of nutrition intervention in their respective MDAs.
Similarly, Nutrition Advocacy Adviser, Save the Children International, Malam Isah Ibrahim, equally called for coordination among various implementing MDAs for maximum impact. (NAN)
