NaijaAgroNet:
The Civil Society Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN) has demanded for the inclusion of nutrition in the federal government response to the ChineseVirus-19 also known as Coronavirus or COVID-19, reports NaijaAgronet.
Just recently the world has been faced
with the Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), now declared a world-wide emergency. As at 24th April 2020, the world has recorded 2,709,483 cases and
190,872 deaths. Nigeria, recorded its first case on 27th February 2020 and has
since, seen a steady rise in number of confirmed cases. Today, Nigeria has a
total of 981 cases with 31 deaths in more than 20 states including the Federal
Capital Territory.
The COVID-19 pandemic has the potential, not
only to cause thousands of deaths as seen globally but, to also unleash morbidity
and economic crisis, posing unprecedented challenges to food systems in Nigeria
and elsewhere. This virus could invariably have lasting effects on people,
their nutrition, healthcare, and food systems across the globe.
CS-SUNN commends the Federal Government, so
far for coming up with preventive, containment and recovery measures since the
outbreak of the virus in the country. The National Centre for Disease Control
(NCDC), the Presidential Task force on COVID-19, the Federal Ministry of Health
and all relevant bodies and agencies have, so far, worked out and are implementing
a National Response Strategy to tackle the menace. This has seen Nigeria
achieve some positive results in the containment of the virus; the successful
treatment and recovery of 197 patients in the country.
With the country’s current childhood
under-nutrition indicator put at 37% stunting, 7% wasting and 23% underweight
(National Demographic and Health Survey, 2018) and about 2.6 million children
under the age of five threatened by malnutrition (2018 Nigeria Nutrition Health
Survey), CS-SUNN foresees an increase in these indicators during and after this
COVID-19 Pandemic, if government does not beam its focus on continued fight
against malnutrition. The alliance recalls the forecast by the Food and
Agriculture Organization (FAO)
before the COVID-19 outbreak that about 7 million Nigerians in 16 Northern
States plus the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) would be in food and nutrition
crisis between June and August 2020. CS-SUNN fears that affected persons might
outnumber the FAO prediction at the end of the COVID-19 crisis.
Governments, businesses, civil society and
international agencies need to take urgent and coordinated action to prevent
the COVID-19 pandemic turning into a global food and humanitarian crisis.
CS-SUNN advises that in the rush to stall the spread of COVID-19, Nigeria should
consider the disastrous increases in malnutrition in both the immediate and
long term. Communities, vulnerable groups especially women dealing with
malnutrition and children suffering Severe Acute Malnutrition, are more likely
to be affected because of the pandemic. Since malnutrition weakens the immune
system, these populations are more susceptible to contracting COVID-19.
CS-SUNN further notes that the spread of COVID-19,
with attendant measures put in place by government to curb it, is now
threatening many Nigerians already made vulnerable by food and nutrition
insecurity, malnutrition and the effects of conflict and other disasters. There
is a “hunger virus” that is slowly ravaging the most vulnerable groups in the
country. Though Nigeria, like all other nations of the world, is navigating
uncertain times, there is urgent need for governments, at all levels, to
prioritize nutrition in COVID-19 response and recovery efforts. The alliance
restates that adequate nutrition is key to building immunity, protection
against illness and infection, and supporting recovery from illnesses. Efforts
to preserve and promote adequate nutrition, including Exclusive breastfeeding,
must be part of COVID-19 prevention strategies to build the resilience of
individuals and communities in Nigeria. Healthy and adequate diets are key for
boosting immunity and preventing non-communicable diseases that are risk
factors for higher COVID-19 morbidity and mortality. Protecting the poor and
most vulnerable from hunger and malnutrition will be necessary for COVID-19
response efforts to succeed in Nigeria.
PRACTICAL
ACTIONS FOR KEEPING NUTRITION AT THE CENTER OF FOOD AND NUTRITION SECURITY
EFFORTS IN NIGERIA:
·
Integration
of Nutrition Specific and Nutrition Sensitive interventions in Nigeria’s
COVID-19 response by the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19.
·
The PTF employ a multi-stakeholder
and multi-Sectoral approach towards combating the pandemic with focus on
improving the nutritional status of Nigerians especially the vulnerable members
of the society.
·
Implementation of Social protection
measures for the poor and most marginalized including refugees and Internally
Displaced Persons. The poor and most marginalized are more vulnerable to
COVID-19 and must be supported to protect themselves from the virus and to stay
resilient throughout the crisis and after.
·
Sustain the functioning of local food
systems in Nigeria. The alliance calls on governments, at National and
sub-national levels, to support small scale farmers, small and medium sized
enterprises as well as local Civil Society Organizations to continue to produce
and deliver affordable, adequate, safe and nutritious foods and to minimize the
impact of lock-downs and quarantines on planting, harvesting, food processing
and access to markets for suppliers and consumers.
·
Ensure adequate domestic funding for
nutrition programmes and interventions as captured in the 2020 annual budgets
at the national and sub-national levels. CS-SUNN commends state governments
like; Lagos, Kano, Niger, Kaduna, and Nasarawa, who have made provision in the
2020 budget for nutrition, and ask that they release same on time. This is to
ensure continuity in the fight against malnutrition and to mitigate the burden
of malnutrition in the country. States run the risk of increased burden of
malnutrition if they allow the emergency situation of COVID-19 stop them from
funding and implementing nutrition programs and interventions in the country.
CS-SUNN enjoins Nigerians to continue
to consume adequate diets to boost their immunity and support recovery of those
infected by the virus. The alliance enjoins the general public to stay safe,
avoid dispersing fake news on the outbreak and wash their hands frequently. The
public should also maintain social
distancing,
practice respiratory hygiene when they sneeze or cough and seek medical care
immediately, they come down with any of the symptoms of the virus. Nigerians should
maintain and observe the restriction on movements directive by the government
as this is key to prevent further spread of the virus.
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