NEC inaugurates N774 initiative to combat malnutrition crisis in Nigeria

The National Economic Council (NEC), on Thursday, launched “Nutrition 774 (N774)” initiative designed to combat malnutrition crisis and improve the nation’s nutrition indices.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the initiative was inaugurated by the Vice-President Kashim Shettima, who presided over the 148th NEC meeting held at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Shettima, who is the Chairman of NEC, noted that the consequences of malnutrition extended far beyond health sector, adding that malnutrition formed the foundation of crisis that limited productivity and national growth.

According to him, these are the challenges that N774 initiative is designed to address.

He stated that the initiative was the first ever national government led intervention to combat malnutrition, adding that it was designed to improve coordination, financing and accountability.

“While adopting a multi sectoral community driven approach, through this initiative, every mother and child regardless of location will have access to life saving nutrition intervention tailored to their uniqueness.

“Eight per cent, from weighing and 27 per cent of children, are underweight. These are not just numbers, they represent faces of children whose futures are at risk before they even begin.

“This is why the nutrition 774 initiative is not only an urgent but also a turning point by focusing on grassroots impact will ensure that mothers and children across all communities have access to critical nutrition support where it matters most.”

Shettima, therefore, said that the initiative was an invitation to all stakeholder’s, governors, ministers, Local Government Chairmen, development partners and the private sector to take action.

He also said that the initiative was a pledge to the people of Nigeria that government would not standby while children suffer the preventable consequences of malnutrition.

Shettima, who is the Chairman, said President Bola Tinubu embraced the initiative not only as a fulfillment of his promise to Nigerians, but also as a national priority.

“Because a well nourished population is a premium insurance for our future,” he said.

On his part, the Chairman, Nigeria Government Forum (NGF), Gov. Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara, assured the unwavering commitment of all the Nigerian governors toward the success of the initiative.

Earlier, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Salako, said the programme would be implemented with the full consent and involvement of states and the grassroots.

Also, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Health, Office of the Vice President, Uju Anwukah, explained that the initiative focused on cascading high impact nutrition interventions down to the grassroots.

“What this initiative does is to identify the gaps in tackling malnutrition in the country to ensure that no community is left behind.

“A lot of our focus is on improving financing on nutrition, improving coordinations and of course ensuring that we prioritize interventions that are evidence based,” she said.

NAN reports that the highpoint of the event was the unveiling of an operational manual for the N774, which was incorporated with the states and local government with the support of private sector.