Cross River State Government Inaugurates 15-Member State Council on Nutrition

The Cross River State Government has taken a decisive step towards investing in the health and well-being of its citizens by inaugurating a 15-member State Council on Nutrition. The council, chaired by Governor Bassey Edet Otu, will provide policy direction, strengthen coordination, and scale up interventions to drive human capital development across the state. The governor emphasized that health and education are at the core of their development plan, and nutrition is the starting point for achieving sustainable progress.

Key Takeaways:

• The State Council on Nutrition will have 15 members, including the Governor, Vice Chairman, Secretary, and other notable officials from various sectors, such as Health, Agriculture, Education, and Finance.
• The council's mandate includes scaling up school feeding, fortifying staple foods with essential vitamins and minerals, and creating awareness to change family diets for the better.
• The Governor has disclosed that early interventions in the state's nutrition sector are already yielding results, with a steady decline in infant morbidity and mortality rates.
• The council will work in synergy with federal initiatives, donor agencies, and community-based structures to expand nutrition programmes and achieve its goals.
• The Governor has called on council members to see their appointment as a call to service, requiring dedication, innovation, and compassion to make a positive impact on the lives of mothers, children, and families across the state.
• The council's work is expected to drive human capital development, strengthen educational outcomes, and improve economic productivity in the state.

Statistics:

• The council has 15 members.
• The state has seen a steady decline in infant morbidity and mortality rates due to early interventions in the nutrition sector.
• The council will work in synergy with federal initiatives, donor agencies, and community-based structures to achieve its goals.
• The Governor has emphasized the importance of investing in nutrition to drive sustainable development and improve the health and well-being of citizens.
• The council will focus on scaling up school feeding, fortifying staple foods, and creating awareness to change family diets for the better.

Sources:

• Cross River State Government press release on the inauguration of the 15-member State Council on Nutrition.
• Governor Bassey Edet Otu's speech during the inauguration of the State Council on Nutrition.