Abuja, 07 October 2016 - Worried by the increasing malnutrition cases among children and adolescents girls in Kaduna state, the wife of Kaduna state Governor Hajiya Ummi El Rufai has sought for the assistance of World Health Organisation (WHO) to tackle the rising cases of malnutrition in the state.

Speaking during an advocacy visit paid to the acting WHO country Representative (WR) Dr Rex Mpazanje at WHO country office in Abuja, Mrs El Rufai described the situation as “alarming” as recent statistics has put the figure to 1.6 million children affected by malnutrition in Kaduna state.  Explaining the objective of her visit Mrs El Rufai said, one of her tasks as the first lady of Kaduna is to ensure women and children are protected from preventable deaths and morbidity particularly adolescent girls who face a higher risk of complications and death as a result of pregnancy.

She therefore requested WHO to support the government of Kaduna state through targeted capacity building activities, household surveys and the co-sponsorship of some initiatives in the state.

Responding, the acting  WR Dr Rex Mpazanje expressed appreciation for the long years of partnership and cooperation that exists between WHO and Kaduna state government. As the secretariat for health in Nigeria, Dr Mapzanje informed the Kaduna first lady that one of WHO country mandates is to strengthen the evidence base of effective and safe nutrition actions to counteract the public health effects of the double burden of malnutrition.  In collaboration with relevant partners and government, Dr Mpazanje told Mrs El Rufai and her delegation that the organisation’s role is to provide evidence-informed policy and programme to in-country government.

Specifically, WHO accordingly support the screening for nutritional status, nutritional surveillance, capacity building, development of technical guidance / policies, promotion of early initiation of breast feeding, exclusive breast feeding, appropriate infant and young child feeding practices Dr Mpazanje said.

While acknowledging that WHO is at the moment stretched attending to the humanitarian crisis in Borno and neighboring states particularly with the outbreak of Wild Polio Virus in that state,  acting WR, revealed that WHO is ever ready to offer its support to the government of Nigeria whether it is during emergency situation or not. As such WHO will review the requests from the government of Kaduna with a view to assisting the state to address the malnutrition situation in the state.

Data from National Demographic Health Survey 2013 shows Kaduna state nutrition indicators at 56.6%  for stunting, wasting 41.7%, underweight 57.6%, undernourished women 23% and early initiation of breast feeding at 23%.

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