By Fatima Saka
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, has called on governors in the South-South geopolitical zone to replicate the Food Bank for Communities initiative in their respective states to tackle hunger, stunting and undernutrition.
Pate made the call on Friday at the South-South Zonal Launch of the Food Bank for Communities, stressing that Nigeria’s economic prosperity could not be achieved without a well-nourished population.
He said the country remained blessed with resources but was still confronted with the burden of stunting and undernutrition among children and women, describing investment in human beings as equally important as investment in physical infrastructure.
According to him, children, women and vulnerable populations constitute the country’s “gray matter infrastructure,” adding that their nutritional wellbeing would determine the quality of human capital available to drive Nigeria’s future development.
Pate said the initiative was timely, particularly as economic reforms were beginning to yield growth, noting that Nigeria recorded 4.43 per cent GDP growth in the second quarter, the highest in several years.
He, however, stressed that the benefits of economic growth must be complemented by increased investment in food security and nutrition.
The minister identified partnership, leadership, resources, effective delivery and accountability as critical to the success of the initiative.
He specifically appealed to governors across the South-South zone to replicate the National Committee Food Bank model in their states, while urging local governments to leverage primary healthcare infrastructure to ensure food and nutritional support reaches vulnerable communities.
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Pate said the Federal Government would continue to drive the initiative in partnership with states, local governments, traditional institutions, civil society, development partners and the private sector.
He added that the government would increase its commitment to ensuring the availability of food and nutritional items, including micronutrients, for Nigerians in need.
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