Experts want N800m nutrition budget restored

Nutrition experts have enjoined the Federal Government to release the N800 million allocated for Ready to Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) in the 2020 budget. The government had earlier removed the money from the Ministry of Health 2020 budget. They made the call on Tuesday during a virtual media parley on the national nutrition conference organised […]

Nutrition experts have enjoined the Federal Government to release the N800 million allocated for Ready to Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) in the 2020 budget.

The government had earlier removed the money from the Ministry of Health 2020 budget.

They made the call on Tuesday during a virtual media parley on the national nutrition conference organised by the International Society of Media in Public Health, in collaboration with Children’s Investment Fund Foundation and other partners.

The RUTF is used in the treatment of Severe Acute Malnutrition in children, a condition that affects over 2.6m Nigerian children under the age of  five.

Dr Emmanuel Sokpo, Country Director, Network for Health Equity and Development, said there was still inadequate allocation and poor or non-release of funding for RUTF despite the fact that it could effectively treat children with SAM at the community level with 95% cure rate.

Beatrice Eluaka, Executive Secretary, Civil Society Scaling up Nutrition in Nigeria, said domestic funding for nutrition had become lean, leading to over-dependence on dwindling donor funding.

Chief Executive Officer of ISMPH, Moji Makanjuola said the media  has an important role to play in addressing the scourge of malnutrition in the country.

UNICEF Nutrition Advocacy Specialist, Zakaria Fusheini, called for increased investment in nutrition to protect the health rights of children.