Abubakar Y. Suleiman, Bauchi State House of Assembly Speaker says the State Assembly will collaborate with the executive arm of government to scale up Severe Acute Malnutrition treatment centres from 21 to 40 in the State.
The Speaker said the move was necessary in order to address the persistent increase in cases of severe acute malnutrition in Bauchi.
Mr Suleiman made the submission at a one-day nutrition stakeholders’ meeting anchored by the Aisha Buhari Foundation, Future Assured which took place at Hazibal Suits, Bauchi.
Mr Sueliman who admitted that the SAM has been a fundamental challenge in Bauchi State says the Assembly is synergizing with other organs of government to decentralize CMAM centres, which he argues will help tame the menace.
The Speaker who recalled how the Assembly made effort to reintroduce an ejected malnutrition budget said that BAHA under his stewardship was determined to end malnutrition in Bauchi.
“Getting more treatment centres spread across the States will help women especially those trekking long distances in order to access the CMAM centres”, the Speaker said.
The speaker said the Assembly will intensify efforts to get other arms of government to act on timely releases of the nutrition budget in order to save children from the scourge of the menace.
The Speaker commended Aisha Buhari foundation and other CSOs for their sustained advocacies in dealing with the menace.
Earlier in his remarks, the State Commissioner of Budget and Economic Planning Dr. Aminu Gamawa who commended the Speaker for exhibiting strong commitment to ending SAM in Bauchi also said that the executive arm of government will henceforth ensure timely release of budgetary allocations on nutrition.
Addressing stakeholders during the meeting, Dr. Aisha Jibrilla of the Aisha Buhari Foundation lamented that Bauchi State like Kano are still facing serious issues regarding the fight against malnutrition.
She said untimely releases of malnutrition budget and inadequate and consistent commitment were some of the issues standing against the war on malnutrition.
Dr. Jibrilla urged Bauchi State to sustain the fight against malnutrition by ensuring timely releases of funds.
She argued that coordinated approach and synergy among stakeholders was paramount in the fight against malnutrition.
