By Williams Danjuma, Gombe
The Gombe State Commissioner for Livestock Development, Alhaji Salisu Baba Alkali, has committed his ministry’s readiness to partner with the Civil Society Scalling Up Nutrition in (CS-SUNN) towards improving nutrition outcomes in Gombe State.
The Commissioner made the commitment when the Gombe State Chapter of CS-SUNN paid him an advocacy visit in his office Thursday afternoon.
He recalled the activities and engagements of CS-SUNN during his tenure as Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, describing nutrition as a priority that requires the commitment and support of all relevant sectors.
According to him, “The livestock sector has an important role to play in improving nutrition through the production and availability of nutritious animal-source foods”.
He assured CS-SUNN that his doors are open for collaboration and partnerships aimed at taking Gombe out of the malnutrition crises it is facing.
Earlier, the Gombe State Coordinator of CS-SUNN, Rebecca Caleb Maina, urged the Commissioner to use his position as a member of the State Executive Council to advocate for increased funding for nutrition and the extension of paid maternity leave to six months.
She said it will greatly support exclusive breastfeeding and contribute to improved maternal and child nutrition outcomes while describing nutrition as a priority that requires the commitment and support of all relevant sectors.
“We’re appealing for a stronger collaboration between your Ministry, CS-SUNN and other relevant stakeholders so as to promote nutrition-sensitive livestock production and increase access to affordable, diverse and nutritious animal-source foods.
“CS-SUNN considers the Ministry of Livestock Production a key stakeholder in efforts to improve food and nutrition security and address malnutrition in the State”, Maina stated.
The advocacy visit forms part of CS-SUNN’s efforts supported by UNICEF to strengthen multi-sectoral collaboration and Government commitment to nutrition, with a focus on sustainable interventions that will improve the health and wellbeing of women, children and vulnerable groups.
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