By CELINE-DAMILOLA OYEWOLE

The First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, has flagged off an advocacy and awareness campaign for a national community food bank programme to address child health challenges caused by malnutrition in Nigeria.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the flag off took place in Abuja on Tuesday, during the Federal Government’s first edition of the National Traditional and Religious Leaders Summit on Health, held at the State House Banquet Hall.

“Health, as we all know, is central to the well-being, productivity and progress of any nation.

“It is for this reason that President Bola Tinubu placed health at the heart of the Renewed Hope Agenda as an essential pillar of national development.

“This year, the Office of the First Lady of Nigeria will be working with the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency to address child malnutrition across the nation.”

According to Mrs Tinubu, her office and the ministry will also collaborate with the Bank of Industry, Bank of Agriculture and other partners to officially launch the National Community Food Bank Programme in April.

This programme, according to her, is designed to strengthen community nutrition support, improve access to safe and nutritious food for vulnerable children, and contribute meaningfully to the national response to ending child malnutrition.

“The programme will operate through the nationwide network of Primary Health Centres to identify and register eligible families with children under six years.

“Caregivers will receive counselling and be given food vouchers that they can redeem for nutritious locally-grown foods at food banks that will be established close to the health centres.

“This initiative will be funded through a Trust Fund by willing private sector partners and well-meaning Nigerians and to ensure accountability, the trust fund will be overseen by credible Nigerians,” she said.

Mrs Tinubu further pleaded for the support of revered traditional and religious leaders, to raise awareness and sensitise households to ensure that no eligible family is left behind nationwide.

She acknowledged all the traditional and religious leaders present for their leadership roles and commitment to the well-being of the people.

She also advised the wives of governors across the nation to also support in the advocacy and ensure that no one was left behind.

“I commend the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare and his team on this particular health summit. Well done for all the great work that you have been doing to improve healthcare delivery to our people.

“At this juncture, I officially flag off the Advocacy and Awareness Campaign for the National Community Food Bank Programme.

“I also congratulate our health volunteers, the National Health Fellows and wish you all success as you commence this journey to contribute to our beloved nation.

“While learning and building your skills, together we will build healthier and stronger generations of Nigerian children,” Mrs Tinubu said.

Muhammad Ali Pate, the Minister for Health and Social Welfare, said that the initiative aligned with the sector’s Renewal Investment Initiative and President Tinubu’s broader reform agenda.

Pate added that the initiative also aimed to improve governance, service quality, security and domestic health financing.

He said the Federal Government convened the National Summit on Health as part of its efforts to deepen community engagement, strengthen health reforms and improve outcomes across Nigeria.

Pate said: “Today we have gathered to hear the details of what the federal government has decided to do with both the state government and the local government.

“Secondly, the malnutrition issue, we have built an infrastructure for our children to address the issue of acute malnutrition.”

NAN further reports that present at the Summit were traditional and religious leaders from the 36 states of the federation including the FCT.

Political leaders, health sector stakeholders and other meaningful Nigerians and representatives of the World Health Organisation were also present. (NAN)

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