Nigeria joined the rest of the world to commemorate the national Nutrition Week 2024 by sensitizing Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the Durumi community of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The theme of the Nutrition week was “Nourishing Our Communities, Empowering Nigerians for Better Nutrition.”

The Permanent Secretary who was ably represented by the Deputy Director Nutrition, Department of Social development in the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning (FMBEP) Mrs. Clementina Okoro, in her welcome address, informed all present that the celebration of the week was aimed at raising awareness on the importance of nutrition especially in this period of food and nutrition insecurity.

Mrs. Okoro noted that the Federal Government is working on tackling nutrition gaps in nutrition with the imminent flag off of “Nutrition 774 initiative” on 11th November, 2024. This, she noted will ensure a catalytic effort by all Local Government Councils (LGCs) in Nigeria to bring nutrition issues to the fore front.

Various local and global communities in their goodwill messages resonated around the theme of the celebration and advocated the importance of good nutrition. The nutrition Week was a joint celebration by Federal implementing entities of Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (FMH&SW), Federal Ministry of Women Affairs (FMWA), Federal Ministry of Education (FME), Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Abaji, Gwagwalada, Kuje, Area Councils of the FCT.

The celebration of the Nutrition week entailed exposition on early initiation of Breast Milk to infants, consumption of dietary supplements, checking of weights and heights of infants to determine their health status and the use of de-worming tablets for children under five years. Nutrition Officers from the area councils gave updates on nutrition activities in their area councils.

The celebration of the nutrition week was sponsored by the World Bank, United States Agency for International Development (USAID), UNICEF, and the Accelerating Nutrition Results in Nigeria (ARIN) Nutrition Society of Nigeria (NSN) FCT Chapter and the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning (FMBEP).

 

Osagie Jacobs J.I Mrs.

Director Information & PR

FMBEP

29 October, 2024