The Civil Society Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CSSUN), Adamawa State chapter has conducted series of advocacy actions to relevant government stakeholders in the state.
The coalition visited three MDAs including the Ministry of Health and Human Services, Ministry of Budget and Planning and Office of Head of Civil Service in Adamawa State.
The advocacy was part of efforts to strengthen the coalition presence in the state and respond to the growing nutrition demands in the state.
According to coalition, the specific objectives of the advocacy initiative include; to track nutritional budgetary allocation and releases to line MDAs, advocate for extended paid maternity leave days for female workers and advocate for increased collaboration between the MDAs and the coalition on nutrition.
Some of the members of CSSUN Adamawa State chapter who took part in the advocacy meetings include; Alimat Care Foundation, Valfasam Care Initiative, Mujib Hope Foundation, Heed the Child Foundation.
Others are; Rural Agricultural Transformation and Empowerment Initiative, Amazon Healing for Women and Children Empowerment Initiative, Richard Bisane Foundation, Sorasun Foundation, Adamawa Concerned Disable Foundation and El-Ezhar Care Initiative.
The delegation visited the Commissioner Ministry of Health and Human Services, Adamawa State, Chief Hon. Felix Tangwami, on the 26th June, 2024, at the State Secretariat.
During the meeting, the Coordinator CSSUN introduced the team and outlined the purpose of the visit and presented the clear goals of the coalition.
According to the Coordinator, the advocacy demands which include increased budgetary allocation, timely releases and effective utilization of nutrition budget and presented same to the Commissioner.
Responding, Hon. Chief Felix Tangwami welcomed the Coalition and expressed appreciation for its effort and willingness to collaborate with the Ministry of Health and Human Services.
Chief Hon. Felix Tangwami, highlighted the major challenges contributing to malnutrition in Adamawa State, emphasizing the lack of access to farmlands and the resulting scarcity and high prices of nutritious food items.
He assured the Coalition that the Ministry is working tirelessly to address the aforementioned challenges through various initiatives.
Chief Hon. Tangwami, disclosed that the Ministry is in the process of securing a supplementary budget aimed at addressing the pressing nutrition needs in the state.
Interestingly, the meeting concluded with a mutual agreement to collaborate and work towards improving nutrition in Adamawa State.
The CSSUN expressed its readiness to support the Ministry's effort and contribute to ongoing initiatives aimed at combating malnutrition.
Likewise, the members of the CSSUN were at the Adamawa State Ministry of Budget and Planning on the 27th June, 2024, and were received by the Permanent Secretary.
The meeting began with the Coordinator of the Coalition of the NGOs on nutrition introducing the coalition's team and then proceeded to outline the key issues affecting nutrition in Adamawa State.
The Coordinator also focused on the impact of climate change on agricultural production and the low rates of exclusive breastfeeding among lactating mothers statistics from a recent survey by UNICEF in the state and emphasizing its importance for infant health.
The coordinator lamented how climate change is adversely affecting farm yields, leading to a decrease in the availability of nutritious food and exacerbating malnutrition and underscored the long-term economic productivity losses due to childhood malnutrition.
CSSUN Coordinator used the opportunity and requested for an increase in the budget allocated for nutrition to address widespread malnutrition and its long-term impact and stressed the importance of timely disbursement of allocated funds for nutrition to ensure effective implementation of programs.
While responding, the Permanent Secretary assured that the nutrition will be prioritized in subsequent budget planning in collaboration with relevant ministries and further promised to ensure proper monitoring of nutrition funds to prevent diversion to other programs.
He commended the Coalition and suggested extending the advocacy effort to higher authorities and other line MDAs and scheduled a follow-up meeting with the Commissioner Ministry of Budget and Planning in the first week of July.
The delegation was also at the Office of the Head of Civil Service, Adamawa State on the 27th June, 2024, and sought for an extension of maternity leave for female civil servants from 3 months to 6 months to allow sufficient recovery time and ensure proper breastfeeding.
In his response, the Head of Service expressed strong support for the Coalition’s request, acknowledging the importance of extended maternity leave to health and well-being of both mothers and their infants.
He encouraged the Coalition to extend their advocacy to higher authorities, including the Secretary to the State Government and the State Deputy Governor, to strengthen their case.
Great work ✅
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