Nutrition focal persons in Plateau State have identified inadequate funding as a major setback to efforts to combat maternal and child malnutrition across the state.
They raised the concern at a symposium organized by the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs for local government areas in the state’s central zone. The event was held on Wednesday in Pankshin.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the symposium focused on finding lasting solutions to challenges affecting efforts to tackle child and maternal malnutrition.
Mrs Victoria Yohanna, Nutrition Focal Person for Bokkos Local Government Area, said inadequate funding remained a major challenge but noted that the council’s financial support and personal sacrifices by health workers had helped the LGA record progress.
“This year, the local government was able to assist us financially. Together with our individual sacrifices, we made remarkable achievements, including becoming the second-best performing LGA in the state,” she said.
However, her counterpart in Pankshin, Mrs Rebecca Kudaru, said the non-release of funds by the local administration had hindered treatment and outreach programs for malnourished children.
She said the shortage of funds had limited access to nutritional supplements and other essential treatment.
“We have written several proposals to address the issue of malnutrition, particularly among children, but funds were not released,” Kudaru said.
Mr Istifanus Jarum, Nutrition Focal Person for Kanke LGA, also said inadequate funding had made it difficult to transport supplements and other consumables from Jos to health facilities in the area.
He disclosed that a director recently used personal funds to transport medication from Jos to two facilities in Kanke.
“We can’t function well without adequate funding,” he said.
Similarly, Mrs Caroline Dalyop, Nutrition Focal Person for Mangu LGA, urged the federal, state and local governments to release adequate funds for the program.
She said development partners had largely sustained interventions with their resources, but warned that such support could not guarantee long-term sustainability.
“Partners have been the ones supporting the program with their resources, but immediately their intervention ended, sustainability has been a huge challenge because of poor funding.
“Government must urgently act if we really want to end malnutrition in our state,” she said.
Mr Ado Ishaya, Nutrition Officer for Kanam LGA, said the local government had distributed medication across its communities, attributing the achievement to the support of traditional rulers and community leaders.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr Ephraim Usman, urged council chairmen to prioritize maternal and child nutrition.
Represented by the ministry’s Director of Budget Planning and Statistics, Mr Philip Haruna, the commissioner pledged to ensure that the funding challenge received the necessary attention from government.
Mr John Dasar, Deputy Chairman of Pankshin LGA, advocated the direct release of budgeted funds for nutrition programs to relevant committees to ensure timely access to resources.
“Our children are dying of malnutrition in the villages while the solution is lying right there in our facilities; this is unacceptable”.
“When you give me responsibilities as chairman of this committee, give me also the resources to execute the assignment you entrusted me with,” he said.
The Ngolo Ngas and Chairman of Pankshin Traditional Council, Mr Jika Golit, also urged the government to take proactive measures to eliminate maternal and child malnutrition.
