By IJEOMA UKAZU
In continuation of its laudable achievement with the Partnership for Improving Nigeria Nutrition Systems, PINNS, the Civil Society- Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria, CS-SUNN has formally launched PINNS 2.0 project with the aim to strengthen nutrition systems in the country.
The project was launched in a joint efforts with nutrition stakeholders in Nigeria at a hybrid Inception meeting held on Wednesday in Abuja.
CS-SUNN says the three-year project is designed to be more Result-driven, Effective, Serviceable, Efficient and Transparent for Human Capital Development, RESET4HCD.
The Chairman of CS-SUNN’s Board of Trustees, Dr. Bamidele Omotola, said the PINNS 2.0 project will build on the gains of the just concluded PINNS 1.0.
He called on stakeholders to work closely with CS-SUNN to achieve the project outcomes, adding that it would contribute significantly to improving nutritional outcomes for Nigeria.
While presenting the PINNS 2.0 overview at the meeting, CS-SUNN Acting Executive Secretary, Mr. Sunday Okoronkwo said, through the project, CS-SUNN will contribute to attaining optimal nutrition which is critical to attaining Human Capital Development, HCD.
Okoronkwo added that when government sustainably commits to improving nutrition through strong nutrition governance, it will ensure nutrition data for planning and decision making is routinely available and that adequate domestic financing is made available to effectively deliver on nutrition services.
According to him, “The outcome will be a well-nourished child who grows up to become a major contributor to growing the country’s Gross Domestic Product and aligns to the HCD objectives.”
While giving his remark, the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget Mrs. Abiola Adetutu Liadi, stated that with the support of CS-SUNN, the state government has made significant progress in the area of improved budget lines for nutrition.
Liadi called on all stakeholders to continue to partner with CS-SUNN and pledged the ministry’s support to the implementation of the PINNS 2.0 project.
Congratulating CS-SUNN, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Planning and Budget Kano state Mr. Auwalu Sanda said, “nutrition has been given priority attention by the state government since the coming of CS-SUNN”.
Sanda further said that more progress in that regard will be made with the PINNS 2.0 project.
CS-SUNN, Nigeria’s HCD target by 2030 is to attain 20 million additional healthy (under-five-years-old children surviving and not stunted), educated (completing secondary school), and productive (youth entering the labor force) Nigerians.
The nutrition organization said that the project will adopt the following strategies to RESET nutrition structures in Nigeria; Improved Implementation of low cost and low-cost nutrition intervention: advocacies for Exclusive Breastfeeding, timely complementary feeding, Iron folate, vitamin A and Zinc supplementation, WASH, Deworming, Food fortification and Management of moderate and severe acute malnutrition.
Improved maternal, infant and young child nutrition for reduced morbidity and mortality, improved adult structure, reduced Diet Related Non-Communicable Diseases, improved school performance and learning capacity, improved work capacity/ productivity and cognitive, motor and socio-emotional development.
Contribute to improving HCD in Nigeria to ensure 20 million additional healthy(under-five-years-old children surviving and not stunted), educated (completing secondary school), and productive (youth entering the labor force) Nigerians by 2030 HCD.
The project will be implemented at the National level and five focal states; Nasarawa, Niger, Kaduna, Kano and Lagos, targeting Nutrition institutions/Bodies, Executives/Legislators/policymakers, Community Influencers/Gatekeepers and the Media across the specified levels.