Health: Kwara Gov’s wife pledges commitment to fighting malnutrition
By Fatima Mohammed-Lawal
Mrs Olufolake Abdulrazaq, the wife of Kwara Governor on Thursday in Ilorin expressed commitment to the fight against malutrition among children in the state.
Abdulrazak gave the pledge during an Investiture conferred on her as the “Nutrition Champion”, by the Accelerating Nutrition Result in Nigeria (ANRiN) Project, under the Kwara State Ministry of Health.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) report that ANRiN project under the auspices of the Ministry of Health honoured Abdulrazak as the “Nutrition Champion” in the state.
In her acceptance speech, the Governor’s wife who is the Founder People Support Center observed that ANRiN is a 21 year Federal Government response, facilitated by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency in order to reduce chronic malnutrition, maternal and child mortality rates.
She stated that the project is expected to also increase school completion and performance, and improve labour force productivity.
Abdulrazaq said that the project was also designed to achieve a balance between the urgent need to protect Nigerian children from the devastating and life-long effects of stunting through the scale-up of cost-effective interventions.
She commended the state government for facilitating the prompt payment of the state’s commitment fund that enabled the state to benefit from the World Bank supported nutrition project.
She also commended the state Ministry of Health for their collaboration and in prioritizing the interest of women, children and Kwara citizens at the forefront in their engagement.
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The Governor’s wife reiterated the commitment of her foundation towards supporting all the initiative of the state government to the betterment of the people in the state especially vulnerabile children.
“I commend the Kwara State Ministry of Health for all the collaboration and partnership that puts the interest of women, children and indeed all Kwarans at the fore front that they engage in to reduce chronic malnutrition; stunting and micro nutrient deficiencies.
Abdulrazak stated that this will reduce maternal and child mortality rates and over time, increase school completion and performance, and improve labour force productivity.
She reiterated the commitment of the state government for facilitating the prompt payment of the State’s commitment fund which, she said, enabled the state to be part of the benefitting states in the World Bank supported nutrition project.
“This project no doubt will help increase utilization of quality, cost-effective nutrition services for pregnant and lactating women, adolescent girls and children under five years of age in the state.
“On this note I accept this role and I also wish to use this occasion to reiterate my commitment and Ajike People Support Center to continue to support all the initiative of the government towards ensuring that kwara women and children enjoy the best of time”, she said.
Speaking earlier, Dr. Raji Razaq, the Kwara Commissioner of Health explained that malnutrition was a major public health challenge globally.
According to him, malnutrition affects all age groups, especially children under five years of age, pregnant and lactating women, as well as adolescent girls who are most vulnerable.
Razaq applauded the governor’s wife for her unrelenting efforts towards championing health initiatives in the state.
He solicited for more attention and resources in the fight against malnutrition which required continued and sustained investment to achieve the desired objective.
Also speaking, Dr. Abayomi Lawal, the ANRiN Project Manager, Kwara Ministry of Health attributed asserted that about 50 percent of death in are attributed to malnutrition.
Lawal said that the project would help increase utilization of quality, cost-effective nutrition services for pregnant and lactating women, adolescent girls and children under five years of age in the state.
