By Jibrin Hussaini Kundum, Bauchi
The Bauchi State Government has been urged to continue and fully implement the school feeding programme as a strategy to reduce malnutrition among pupils and students across the state.
This call was made by the Scaling Up Nutrition Civil Society Youth Network Nigeria during an advocacy visit to the management of the Bauchi State Primary Health Care Board (BSPHCB), which took place at the board’s headquarters.
Speaking during the visit, Huzaifa Abubakar, the Team Lead of the SUN–Civil Society Youth Network Nigeria said the rationale behind the visit was to discuss key areas that would improve the nutrition system, particularly the school feeding programme, and to provide breastfeeding corners or Creches for nursing mothers to breastfeed their children during working hours in state ministries, departments, and agencies.
He noted that some years ago, the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, introduced the school feeding programme under the Social Investment Programme to improve the learning environment, enhance student retention, and address malnutrition among pupils.
Huzaifa Abubakar revealed that “After the introduction of the school feeding programme by the Federal Government, some benefiting states domesticated the programme in their respective states, but Bauchi State is yet to fully emulate the gesture”.
He stressed that the programme would significantly save lives and urged the state government to urgently look into its implementation.
The SUN Youth Network also appealed to the state government to establish designated breastfeeding corners for nursing mothers in public offices, noting that such facilities would support working mothers, improve productivity, and align with cultural and religious values.
In his remarks, the Director of Disease Control and Immunisation of the State Primary Health Care Board, Dr. Adamu Muhammad, said that the Bauchi State Government has already made provision for spaces in some MDAs for women to breastfeed their children while on duty.
He added that the board would do everything possible to actively contribute its quota toward complementing Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed’s determination to improve the healthcare sector.
In their separate remarks, the State Nutrition Officer, Mallam Abubakar Sabo Sale Bara, and the State Health Educator of the Primary Health Care Board, Muhammad Ribado Jibrin, commended the efforts of the Scaling Up Nutrition Civil Society Youth Network Nigeria for the advocacy visit.
They expressed optimism that the visit would yield positive results and significantly enhance the nutrition system.
The officials also promised to work together with the SUN–Civil Society Youth Network Nigeria to ensure zero malnutrition and mortality, and to improve the nutrition outcomes in both rural and urban communities across the state.