Iloke Egbe
The State Governor, His Excellency Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu has declared that shortly the State will discontinue the purchase of Nutrition commodities from Switzerland and other partners that are supplying Commodities which can be locally sourced as the State has comparative advantage in many of the nutritional Commodities supplied by partners.
The Governor, represented by the Vice Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, State Planning Commission and the Vice Chairman, Cross River State Council on Nutrition, Pastor Bong Duke, who disclosed this during the Council meeting held at the SPC Conference Hall, New Secretariat Complex Calabar.
Delivering the Governor's message during the Council first meeting for this year, he stated that a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has been signed to source nutrition commodities locally, with plans underway to establish a local manufacturing factory for the production of cereals in Cross River State.
The Governor advocated for a realistic and implementable nutrition budget and justification for the cost of training health care personnel as a way of reciprocating Government goodwill for the sector.
In his remarks, the Vice Chairman, State Council on Nutrition reiterated that the establishment of the State Council on Nutrition marks a significant step toward strengthening governance and coordination of nutrition interventions in the State. He emphasized the Council’s role in providing strategic guidance, promoting multi-sectoral synergy, mobilizing resources, and ensuring accountability through monitoring and evaluation.
He noted that the Council will operate through a dedicated secretariat, hold bi-annual meetings, and periodically review of performance to ensure alignment with national policies. He called on members to act with urgency and unity to eradicate preventable malnutrition and improve the wellbeing of citizens.
Presenting Progress Report on Food and Nutrition, the State Nutrition Officer, Mrs Nkem Ubana emphasized that Nutrition is central to global development, particularly SDG 2 (Zero Hunger). While nutrition interventions directly support SDG 2, and they also contribute indirectly to other Sustainable Development Goals by improving Education, gender equality, poverty reduction, and overall life opportunities.
On 3rd/4th Quarter Progress, she informed that Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week (MNCHW) delivered essential nutrition interventions statewide, with target population
Deworming 802,472 while Vitamin A was distributed to 903,213, Multiple Micronutrient Supplements (MMS) supplied to 250,772 and under-5 Population: 903,213, that Budget Performance was only 34% of the 2025 on Food and Nutrition.
Highlights of the meeting were presentations, questions and answers. The Council of State on nutrition is made up of the State Governor as chairman, Vice Chairman SPC, Commissioners of Health, Education, Information, State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Ministry of Agriculture, Budget Office, State Committee on Food and Nutrition, etc
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