Adamawa, UNICEF, Assembly call for more budget for nutrition, PHC

Adamawa, UNICEF, Assembly call for more budget for nutrition, PHC

The Adamawa State Planning Commission, in collaboration with UNICEF and the State House of Assembly, has stressed the urgent need for increased budgetary allocation for nutrition and other essential Primary Health Care (PHC) services.

They also emphasised the importance of the timely release of funds to address the growing challenges in these sectors.

This call was made in a communiqué signed by the Speaker of the Adamawa House of Assembly, Mr Bathiya Wesely.

The communiqué was issued at the end of a two-day meeting on legislative action and commitment to nutrition policy and financing.

The meeting was held in Yola on Tuesday, focusing on the need for increased attention to nutrition and funding for related services.

The Speaker was represented by the Majority Leader of the House, Kate Mamuno.

Wesely highlighted that Adamawa State currently had a high burden of malnutrition.

“The nutritional status of children under five years of age in the State has deteriorated significantly over the past five years,” he said.

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According to available data, stunting (low height-for-age) increased from 39.7 per cent in 2018 to 48.6 per cent in 2023-2024.

“Wasting (low weight-for-height) rose from 4.2 per cent to 7.0 per cent, and underweight (low weight-for-age) prevalence surged from 19.1 per cent to 32.5 per cent.

“These alarming trends reflect a worsening malnutrition crisis, highlighting the urgent need for scaled-up, well-coordinated, and adequately funded nutrition interventions at all levels, state, local government, and community.”

The communiqué stressed that these concerning trends emphasised the critical need for strong legislative action to prioritise nutrition in the state budget, ensuring that allocated funds were efficiently released and utilised