The Akwa Ibom House Committee on Nutrition and Food Security has taken the campaigns on combating malnutrition to the 31 Local Government Areas of the State.
Media reports indicate that the committee will work in collaboration with stakeholders and development partners to ensure good nutrition especially for children and adolescents.
The Chairman, House Committee on Nutrition and Food Security in the Assembly, Mr Moses Essien, on Tuesday urged the 31 LGAs legislative arms to domesticate nutrition and food security committees in the third tier of government.
Essien, who is also the member, representing Ibiono Ibom state constituency in the House of Assembly, said there was need for all stakeholders across the state to get involved and eradicate malnutrition from the state.
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He said since the inauguration of the committee by the National Assembly and the State House of Assembly, there was need to have the same committee at the local government legislative council.
The committee chairman noted that the National Demographic Health Survey 2023/2024 statistics showed that 24.1 per cent of children in Akwa Ibom are stunted and 22.6 per cent are underweight.
Essien, who is also the Chairman, House Committee on Health, said that there was need for collaboration among key stakeholders and development partners to combat malnutrition and food insecurity in the state and country.
“According to the National Demographic Health Survey carried out in 2023/2024, 24.1 per cent of children in Akwa Ibom State are stunted, 11.8 per cent are wasted while 22.6 per cent are underweight.
“These indicators show the level of malnutrition in the state that calls for serious concern among critical stakeholders.
“This is because malnutrition has severe consequences on the child’s health leading to infant mortality.
“It was the resolution by the National Assembly that combating malnutrition and food insecurity cannot be left in the hands of executive alone.
“Hence, the establishment of the National Legislative Network on Nutrition and Food Security.
“It is our belief that each legislative council in the 31 Local Government Areas of Akwa Ibom State must also domesticate nutrition and food security committees at the third tier of government.
“Leaders of local government legislative councils should appoint chairmen and members of nutrition and food security committees and ensure their inauguration,” Essien said.
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Essien disclosed that a workshop will soon be organised in collaboration with some development partners to enhance capacity building for members of the committee.
In her remarks, Dr Idongesit Umo, Akwa Ibom Nutritionist Officer, urged the house committee to ensure that the budgeted funds for nutrition and food security were released on time for implementation of activities to combat malnutrition.
Umoh added that combating malnutrition in the state and country should be everybody’s business and not left for the executive alone.
“When we talk of nutrition we look at the most vulnerable, we look at children under five years and pregnant women and the adolescents.
“We urge the House Committee on Nutrition and Food Security to ensure that the budgeted funds for nutrition and food security are released promptly to enhance proper implementation of activities to combat malnutrition.
I’m sure if we do this, the next time the demographic survey will be released, the issue of Akwa Ibom having 24.1 per cent stunted and 22.6 per cent in terms of children who are under weight will change for better,” Umoh said.
Speaking on behalf of the Council Chairmen, Mr Utibe Nwoko, Chairman, Ika Local Government Area, assured that all the chairmen of councils would partner the committee in combating malnutrition in the state.
Nwoko urged everyone to return to farm, stressing that the genesis of malnutrition and the consequences are mostly as a result of lack of farming.
