Kaduna ministry of finance promises cash backing for nutrition budget releases

The Kaduna State Ministry of Finance on Tuesday, promised cash backing of nutrition budget releases brought before it, to ensure the implementation of nutrition programmes in the state.

Mr Caleb Hyuk, Director, Debt Management Department of the ministry made the promise in Zaria, at a two-day Review Meeting on allocation, releases, and utilisation of nutrition budget.

The meeting was organised by the Civil Society-Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN) in partnership with Planning and Budget Commission (PBC) and Save the Children International (SCI).

Supreme reports that stakeholders at the meeting had described the lack of cash backing of released funds for nutrition interventions as a “serious challenge” in the state.

Hyuk pointed out that cash backing of budget releases was based on availability of funds and priorities.

He assured stakeholders that cash backing of nutrition budget releases would be given due attention to ensure that no child died of malnutrition in the state.

Mr Isah Ibrahim, SCI Nutrition Advocacy Advisor, said that lack of dedicated nutrition related budget lines across relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) was affecting implementation of nutrition programmes.

“There was also the problem of delay in cash backing of approved funds to implement nutrition activities as well as inadequate skilled manpower to provide nutrition services at health facilities.

“The Kaduna state government should take the lead in improving investments in nutrition,” he said.

He however pointed out that “no single organisation or government can act alone to achieve the goal of ending hunger and malnutrition.”

Ibrahim also called on the state government to ensure adequate funding for nutrition as enshrined in some of the government strategic and operational plans related to sensitive and specific nutrition interventions.

He also advised that the nutrition interventions be included in the relevant state sector implementation plans for 2020-2022 and create nutrition budget lines in relevant MDAs.

Also speaking, Mrs Sarah Kwasu, State Team Lead, Alive and Thrive (FHI 360) stressed on the use of data to guide nutrition programme deliverables.

Kwasu stressed the need for relevant MDAs and stakeholders to ensure proper data collection, collation, and documentation to facilitate adequate budget allocation for nutrition programmes.

According to her, budget allocation should be based on need to ensure a result-driven nutrition programme implementation.

“Alive and Thrive is an initiative to save lives, prevent illnesses and ensure healthy growth and development of children through improved breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices,” she said.

Mrs Chinwe Ezeife, Nutrition Specialist, UNICEF Kaduna, also stressed the need for increased domestic investment in nutrition to ensure uninterrupted growth, development, and survival of children in the state.

Mr Kunle Ishola, Project Assistant, CS-SUNN, Abuja, said that the objective of the meeting was for stakeholders to ascertain the level of nutrition investment and performance in the state.

“We also want to understand the current malnutrition situation in the state and the need for prompt action.

“The meeting will also help stakeholders to secure state commitments toward improving domestic investment in high-impact, low-cost interventions as captured in the state specific plans of actions in the 2021 annual budget,”