C/River Declares State of Emergency on Malnutrition
The Government of Cross River State, led by His Excellency, Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu has declared a state of emergency on malnutrition in order to achieve the state's objective of making Cross Riverians the healthiest people in Nigeria by the year, 2027.
Represented by the state vice chairman and chief executive officer, Cross River State Planning Commission, Dr. Bong Duke, the governor, stated this during the inauguration of the Local Government Committee on Food and Nutrition at Ikot Nakanda, Akpabuyo Local Government Area of the state.
The governor admitted that statistics about malnutrition and its effect on the state were not pleasing. Therefore, every stakeholder in the food and nutrition value chain has to sit up and embrace their responsibilities with timeline. He charged the Local Government Committee on Food and Nutrition to swim into action without delay and constitute Ward committees on food and nutrition with the ward councillors as chairmen of the committees. According to him, the system should be consciously structured in order to ensure that no child goes to sleep with hunger.
He further noted that the strategy should be designed to combat malnutrition, hunger, and poverty because Akpabuyo remains at the heart of this strategy, given her potential in agriculture, including the aquatic ecosystem. He declared that with the powers conferred on him as the conscience of the State, the committee was inaugurated to the glory of God and for the benefit of His children.
In his acceptance speech, the vice chairman of the Council, who is by policy, the chairman Akpabuyo Local Government Committee on Food and Nutrition, Hon. Chris Effiom, thanked the governor for recognising the dire situation and his desire to intervene.
Mr. Effiom commended the chairman of council, Hon. Prince Effiom Bassey Effiong, whom according to him, has demonstrated that the welfare of Akpabuyo people was a top priority of his administration.
He used the occasion to expressed his appreciation for the opportunity given to serve his people again in such capacity with a promise to give his best while calling on the State committee on Food and Nutrition to give them the needed support whenever the need arises with a call to the committee members to unite and work as team.
Highlights of the Inauguration were a PowerPoint presentation by the State Nutrition Officer, Mrs Nkem Eyong Ubana, a presentation on budget instrument as a lifeline for the committee by Mrs. Ewo Edet, PRS Ministry of Local Government Affairs, presentation of the State policy on Food and Nutrition and the State strategic Development Plan to the LGCFN chairman. There were also questions and answers sessions, as well as a group photograph.
Members of the Local Government Committee on Food and Nutrition are Hon. Chris Effiom - chairman, Elder. Paul Etim vice chairman, Angela E. Akim, Patrick Onoyom, Jonah Udowong, Catherine Archibong others include Ame Effiom, Glory Etene, Umo Mensah, His Royal Highness Eteyin Edem Effiom Edem and Grace Umo.
Dignitaries who graced the event were the Permanent Secretary SPC and chairman State Committee on Food and Nutrition Mr. Kingsley Ndem Eyibio, members of the State Technical Committee on Food and Nutrition and Staff of the Local Government Council.
