Malnutrition: Kaduna govt develops 2025 AOP to achieve Positive results in nutrition Interventions
By: Femi Mustapha
Kaduna State Government has developed the 2025 Annual Operational Plans ( AOP) for the 23 LGAS Nutrition Focal Persons (NFPs) in the State.
The Project Coordinator Accelerating Nutrition Result in Nigeria (ANRiN), World Bank project, , Dr. Zainab Muhammad Idris Kwaru, disclosed this at the end of a 3-day UNICEF-supported Review and Development of the 2025 Annual Operational Plan (AOP) for the 23 LGAs Nutrition Focal Person (NFPs) held in Zaria.
Dr. Zainab, who was the facilitator of the workshop, said AOP provides the NFPs with the basics and the blueprint to be able to articulate their priority activities based on the budget sealing that they have so that they can achieve the desired results, especially around nutrition-specific Interventions.
She added that the Annual Operational Plans are annual routines that every LGA is expected to develop so that they guide the intervention for the next year.
Dr. Zainab explained that the AOP will provide the Focal Persons with the basics and the blueprint to be able to articulate their priority activities based on the budget sealing that they have so that they can achieve the desired results, especially around nutrition-specific Interventions.
She stressed that the AOP will show that the Local Governments have different activities that will help achieve the expected results that will address those indices that will help in showcasing that we are making progress in terms of nutritional Interventions and the prevention of malnutrition.
“The Nutritional Focal Persons are the Custodians of this plan; they have the responsibility of ensuring that the plan is implemented to the last because they will come back to report on their performance and progress in their respective LGAs so that the nutritional Interventions are not left neglected but receives the priority it deserves.” She said
The Nutrition Specialist of UNICEF, Kaduna field office, Chinwe Ezeife, in her response, opined that the AOP for the Multi Strategic Plan on Food and Nutrition for Kaduna State is what is used, annually, to derive implementable activities based on current trends and priorities agreed by the State government through Planning and Budget Commission and the UNICEF Field Office.
She stressed that priorities are taking Cognizant of the fact that nutrition is on the development agenda and the Human Capital Development and as a result, it is merged.
“The Developed Annual Operational Plan has articulated all the priority areas that will be implemented in 2025 to improve the health and nutritional well-being of Citizens in Kaduna State.”
The Nutrition Focal Person for Zango Kataf LGA, Deborah Ishaya, said she appreciated God for the success of the development of the 2025 AOP plan for Kaduna State.
According to her with the developed AOP, the NFPs will be able to achieve their plans in the nutrition Units and Departments in all 23 LGAs.
“We will also be able to fight against malnutrition and reduce it to the lowest level in Kaduna State.”
Speaking at the closing ceremony Director, of Development Aid Coordination, in the Planning and Budget Commission (PBC) Hajiya Aisha Mohammad said stakeholders and the NFPs on food and nutrition from the 23 LGAS in the state were brought together to contribute their quota in reducing the scourge of malnutrition and sustain the recent gains made by the State.
She assured that Kaduna State Economic Planning Board, coordinated by the PBC will make sure that the State comes up with solutions and ideas on how they can support NFPs to ensure their mandate in surmounting any challenges in 2025.
She, however, advised the LGAs to inter-switch NFPs with other LGAs instead of transfer, which, at times, leaves some vacuum that hampers the realization of food and nutrition activities.
Aisha Mohammad tasked the NFPs to ensure that the work is in line with their AOP maximum results, saying that the State Government under Governor Senator Uba Sani is working round the clock to remove obstacles that will hinder the implementation of their AOP for 2025.
