CS-SUNN advocates increased nutrition funding, maternity leave implementation in Yobe

The Civil Society Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN) has called on the Yobe Government to increase funding for the Child Nutrition Fund (CNF) and implement the approved extension of maternity leave for working mothers in the state.

The State Coordinator of CS-SUNN, Mr Muhammad Ali, made the appeal during an advocacy visit to key Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) on Tuesday in Damaturu.

Ali, who spoke on behalf of members of the advocacy team, introduced other delegates and expressed appreciation to the heads of the MDAs for receiving them.

He urged the state government to increase budgetary allocation to the Child Nutrition Fund and ensure the implementation of the extended maternity leave policy for working mothers to promote exclusive breastfeeding and improve child nutrition outcomes.

Responding, Mohammed Garba Gagiyo, the Commissioner for Budget assured the delegation that the ministry would contribute to the development of the state’s three-year Multi-Sectoral Strategic Plan of Action on nutrition.

The commissioner also encouraged CS-SUNN to sustain its engagement with the ministry on nutrition-related issues, saying such collaboration would help address malnutrition in the state.

Also speaking on separate occasion, the Executive Secretary of the Yobe Primary Health Care Management Board, Babagana Kundi Machina disclosed that the Child Nutrition Fund allocation had been increased to N500 million.

He said N200 million had already been released, while the balance would be released soon and remitted to the UNICEF account for the implementation of nutrition interventions.

Similarly, Chairman of the Yobe State House of Assembly Committee on Health, Hon. Kachalla Ajiya Maina, commended CS-SUNN for its consistent advocacy on nutrition issues.

Maina noted that the organisation had remained steadfast in engaging policymakers on nutrition matters and urged the team to also visit the Office of the Head of Service and the Office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) to advocate the implementation of the extended maternity leave policy for working mothers.

He reaffirmed the committee’s commitment to supporting initiatives aimed at improving maternal and child nutrition in the state.