COVID-19: Nutrition, A Strategy For Prevention -FG

The Federal Government has called on Nigerians to use nutrition as a major part of the strategies for preventing a further spread of the COVID-19 and build the resilience of individuals and communities.

The government also stressed the need to give top priority to the budgetary allocations to agriculture and food security in the country.

The Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen, stated these in Abuja on Friday at a programme organised by Action Against Hunger (Nigeria) and Civil Society Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria to commemorate the World Food Day.

Tallen, represented by the Director (Child Development) in the ministry, Jummai Mohammed, said the call became imperative because of the current challenges facing Nigeria.

She said the COVID-19 pandemic crippled livelihoods and resulted in increase in all forms of violence, especially against women.

Tallen said an available report indicated that Nigeria had the highest number of children affected by malnutrition globally, with more than 2.5 million suffering from acute malnutrition.

The minister said, “Nutrition must be part of the ongoing COVID-19 prevention strategies to build resilience of individuals and communities. Good nutrition is necessary to build immunity, protect against illness and infection and support recovery.”