From Enyinna Omoke, Abakaliki
The United Nations Children’s Fund(UNICEF) has tasked stakeholders on collaborative solution to hidden hunger as it engages Stakeholders for advocacy, innovation and for a sustainable development.
It was at a conference in Ebonyi State.
The 3 days conference which took place at Re Meritona Hotels, Abakaliki witnessed presence of stakeholders from all walks of life: members of the academia, clergymen , among others.
Speaking on the theme, `Collaborative solution to hidden hunger: stakeholders engagement, advocacy and innovation for sustainable development’, health specialist and officer in charge of UNICEF Enugu Field office , Dr Olusoji Akinleye applauded the commitment of Ebonyi State Government to end hidden hunger, saying that hidden hunger is very challenging and has devastating effects.
According to Dr Akinleye, Hidden hunger is the hunger that you cannot see; it is not apparent nor obvious nor appear in the body, but a sort of deficiency in some components of food that does not necessarily contribute to someone’s weight nor height, adding that it doesn’t show in ones height nor weight, but shows in mental capacity and intellect, and sometimes, it can lead to death.
He further explained that a good number of people are suffering from this micro nutrient efficiency, saying that Ebonyi is the worst in hidden hunger when compared with other states in South East because it affects about 25% of the state’s population.
It is actually a very important activity that Ebonyi state government is doing today in the Sense that hunger is something that is very challenging and has devastating effect.All enemies are bad but the enemy you don't see are more dangerous and that is how the issue of hidden hunger came to be. This a hunger that you hardly see; if you see a child that is malnourished, you will know that child actually needs food. You can see it from the body,but hidden hunger is not like that,it vitamins, minerals, general food we call micronutrients . It doesn’t show in your height,it doesn’t show in your weight,it shows in your mental capacity and intellect and sometimes,it can lead to death.
We have good number of people who are suffering from micronutrient efficiency.It also affects the development of society generally.
`Ebonyi state government is the first to do it as far as we know ,and it is something that is very important and we commend them for that and we are going to collaborate with them.
Hidden hunger is the hunger that you cannot see; it is not apparent nor obvious.Hidden hunger is a hunger that does not appear in your body, its a sort of deficiency in some components of food that does not necessarily contribut to your weight nor your height.But rather it contributes to the ability to defend illnesses in your body.Its your ability to develop your mental capacity .So it is not immediately obvious but we see the consequences thereof. The degree of this hidden hunger is about one in 4 unfortunately ; its about 25% in this state.When you look at the regional bases,South East in particular; unfortunately again, Ebonyi seems to be doing the worst when compared to our neighbors in South East. I think bringing it here is to aroused and awaken government and the people to its existence and also to take action.
Earlier in her address, the commissioner for budget , planning, research and monitoring in Ebonyi state, Deborah Chinwe Okah noted that hidden hunger needs a proactive approach and support of stakeholders in order to alleviate hunger.
She stated that Ebonyi state government has adopted multisectoral approach as well as policies , programmes and budgetary provisions to tackle hunger in the state, calling for the collaboration and support of stakeholders to end hunger in the state.
Also,some National Assembly Members from Ebonyi state such as: Eze Nwachukwu, Emmanuel Uguru and Nkemka Kamah all declared their support to collaborate with government and other relevant agencies to end hidden hunger in their constituencies and the state at large.
Responding, the governor of Ebonyi state, Francis Nwifuru said that in a conference like this, it is imperative to get a comparative solution to hidden hunger and malnutrition through stakeholders engagement for a sustainable development.
The governor who was represented by his deputy, Patricia Obila noted that his administration will provide a multisectoral approaches to tackle malnutrition and hunger for the welfare and wellbeing of the society .
He commended the keynote speakers and other resource persons for their unwavering commitment to end hidden hunger and malnutrition in the state, calling for more efforts and support to actualize it.
He also reaffirm his intentions and plans to recruit over one thousand persons into the state workforce, saying that it was deliberate and a calculated plan to address the need for manpower necessary for general service delivery to lift people out of poverty .
Governor Nwifuru also used the opportunity to announce plans for salary increments to civil servants despite the anticipated national minimum wage .
The conference featured presentation of awards to deserving stakeholders of the state including the wife of the governor,Mrs Uzoamaka Maudlin Nwifuru, among others.
