The Plateau State Government has intensified efforts to end the cycle of chronic malnutrition, which currently affects about 44 percent of children across the state. Authorities have identified prolonged violent conflicts, displacement of farming communities, poor infant and young child feeding practices, and the failure of households to consume available nutritious foods as key factors worsening the situation. These issues were brought to the fore during a press briefing at the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning in Jos, organized as part of activities marking the 2025 Nutrition Week.
Addressing journalists, the Director of Nutrition at the Plateau State Primary Health Care Development Board, Tongmor Dabis, emphasized that the fight against chronic malnutrition must begin with maternal health and early childhood nutrition. She stressed the importance of exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life, followed by appropriate complementary feeding, warning that poor nutrition during this critical period leads to irreversible stunting. Dabis disclosed that Governor Caleb Mutfwang has approved funds for the procurement of Small-Quantity Lipid-based Nutrient Supplements (SQ-LNS) and Multiple Micronutrient Supplements (MMS) for pregnant and nursing mothers, noting that these interventions are aimed at preventing malnutrition from the womb and addressing the reality that many families sell nutritious produce instead of consuming it.
Earlier in his remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Yohanna Mangtu, highlighted achievements recorded under The Time Is Now administration, describing the government’s response as deliberate and multi-sectoral. He cited the establishment of Local Government Committees on Food and Nutrition, the review of the State Food and Nutrition Policy (2024–2028), and the launch of the Nutrition 774 Initiative to strengthen grassroots implementation. Mangtu also pointed to the role of the health sector through maternal, newborn, and child health weeks, as well as contributions from other ministries in food safety, sustainable agriculture, MSME food fortification, and school garden revival. He added that partnerships with UNICEF and civil society organizations have expanded community sensitization, WASH promotion, adolescent nutrition education, and household food production, positioning Plateau State for sustained progress in improving nutrition outcomes despite ongoing challenges.
