We are committed to nutrition of Lagosians — LASG

The Lagos State Government (LASG) has restated its commitment to meeting the nutritional requirements of residents of the State in order to ensure they live healthy.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youth and Social Development, Pharm (Mrs) Toyin Oke-Osanyintolu made the affirmation during a meeting with members of the Civil Society Scaling-Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN) during an advocacy visit to the Ministry on Monday at the Secretariat Alausa, Ikeja, the State Capital.

She said, “The State Government is committed to putting in place policies that will help promote the nutrition of its citizenry. The creation of Nutrition Department and Improved Funding for Nutrition is one of the things we are doing in this regard to ensure that the nutritional requirements of our people, most especially the vulnerable amongst us, are met despite the prevailing economic hardship.”

She added, “In all our 15 government owned homes, we have directed the heads to ensure that nutrition is topnotch. We have put in place measures for the implementation of the Reviewed Diet Plan. This is in addition to making budgetary allocation for nutrition as well as strengthening synergy amongst the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in charge of this from the state level to the grassroots.”

The State Coordinator, Civil Society Scaling-Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN), Mr Samuel Akinyode said that the body (made up of 30 associations) was at the Ministry to commend the State Government for the support given to it, adding that CS-SUNN would support the Nutrition Plan of the State by promoting Urban Farming.

On her part, Director, Child Department, Mrs Bukayo Odukoya, stated that the capacity building programmes usually organised by the Ministry for operators of private homes in the State would be given priority.