Shettima inaugurates committee to address malnutrition, says narrative must change

Vice-President Kashim Shettima has inaugurated the nutrition core working committee to address malnutrition prevalence in Nigeria.

Speaking during the inauguration on Friday, Shettima said the committee would provide the council with the relevant skills to tackle malnutrition.

He expressed concern over the high level of malnutrition cases, adding that the committee must remain committed to changing the narrative.

“I welcome you to the inauguration of this all-important committee that will serve as the intellectual powerhouse that will provide the expertise and technical competence to the National Council on Nutrition,” NAN quoted Shettima as saying.

“As far as I am concerned, you are the people that will draw the roadmap for us. As I have always said, we have no business being poor. We are potentially one of the richest countries in the world but we have so far remained a potential.

“This is why I am very passionate about this committee.”

Shettima said the cases of severe malnutrition in Nigeria is currently at 33 percent, adding that the country loses $2.5 billion to nutrition deficiency annually.

He said only 88 out of 100 children under the age of five can survive the nutrition crisis in Nigeria.

“And beyond that, a child born in Nigeria has 36 percent chance of reaching the age of 60,” he added.

Earlier this year, the United Nations (UN) listed Nigeria among the 15 countries where children will suffer acute malnutrition and wasting.

In June, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said over 700,000 kids in Nigeria’s north-east will require treatment for acute wasting.