…aisha buhari foundation advocates for increased budgetary allocation for prevention and treatment of severe acute malnutrition.
The AISHA BUHARI FOUNDATION has advocated for an upward review of the allocation for treatment and prevention of Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) this would save the cost that may arise from more children falling into SAM.
The National coordinator of the foundation DR MOHAMMED KAMAL made this known when he led a consortium of stakeholders to the office of the Senate president, to discuss the burden of severe acute malnutrition and advocate for prioritization and Sustainable funding for the prevention and treatment of SAM, as well as promote policies around local production and procurement of (ready to use therapeutic food) RUTF.
Among the issues of concern raised by the coalition, was the fact that Malnutrition accounts for about half of the 134 children who die in Nigeria daily, from preventable causes.
In his response Senate President DR AHMED IBRAHIM LAWAN, represented by his Special Adviser on health, DR MUHKTAR MUHAMMED acknowledged the need for Government at all levels to live up to its responsibilities, especially with the current logistic challenges RUTF is facing.
He agreed that local production would go a long way in solving the problem especially as all the raw materials are readily available, DR MUHAMMED further made a commitment to prioritise the request in his discussion with the Chairperson of the House committee on Health and also do their best to see how the parliament can augment or retain the budget.
The consortium was made up of Network for Health Equity and Development (NHED), Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) and International Society for Media in Public Health (ISMPH), and top management staff of Aisha Buhari Foundation.
