The Civil Society Scaling of Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN) has called on the governments to Invest in women, and accelerate progress for optimal nutritional outcomes.
The Kano state coordinator of CS-SUNN Hajiya Zainab made the call to stakeholders as part of its strategies and celebration of International Women’s Day Celebration IWD 2024.
She said as the world marks International Women’s Day 2024, CS-SUNN issues a strong call to action to governments, civil society organizations, businessmen, and individuals to prioritize investing in women to foster empowerment and access to optimal nutrition.
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“According to UNICEF 4.5 million pregnant women in Nigeria are anaemic and Nigeria has the third highest maternal mortality translating to 225 deaths per day with Post Partum Haemorrhage being a key cause”.
“In every 10 women in the world lives in extreme poverty (UN Women) at prime working age, only 61 per cent of women are in the labour force versus 90 per cent of men (UN Women)”.
The coordinator said Nigeria cannot continue to miss out on Nutrition and gender-equality dividends. Ending gender inequality and empowering women will enhance priority interventions for improved food and nutrition security outcomes”.
“The role of women is critical in attaining each of the pillars of food security availability, access, and utilization and throughout the agricultural value chain”.
“Also, leveraging the Multiple Micronutrient Supplements (MMS) at scale to strengthen Antenatal Care platforms across Primary Healthcare centres will deliver high impact maternal nutrition interventions for Nigeria”.
It will reduce anaemia among pregnant women to 40% by 2025 (according to the National Multisectoral Plan of action for Food and Nutrition) and reduce anaemia among pregnant women by 50% by 2030 (SDGs 2030).
The CS-SUNN then called for the implementation of 6 months maternity leave with pay for working women by the government, states and organizations who are yet to, as breastfeeding in the workplace has significant human and economic benefits”.
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“We urge employers to establish breastfeeding comers in workplaces to facilitate nursing mothers’ access to a private and comfortable space for breastfeeding or milk expression”.
“By creating breastfeeding-friendly workplaces, we promote women’s participation in the workforce while supporting their ability to provide optimal nutrition for their infants”.
“More investments are needed to promote women’s access to income-generating activities and financial services as key drivers of economic empowerment and poverty alleviation”.
In a remark, the CS-SUNN Public relations officer in Kano Salmanu Muhammad Urged all government’s agencies responsible for provision of nutritional foods in Kano state to join hand in ensuring that the set targets in achieved.
He solicit for Journalist Support in sensitizing the general public on the importance of having nutritional society.