Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, has called on the Civil Society–Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN) to design a practical work plan that will enhance nutrition awareness and advocacy across communities in the state.
Senator Ewhrudjakpo gave the charge on Thursday when the Bayelsa chapter of CS-SUNN paid him a courtesy visit at Government House, Yenagoa.
He expressed worry that most of the negative nutrition data in the state emanated from rural areas, stressing the need for behavior change campaigns that would be driven in local dialects across radio stations to tackle misconceptions about healthy food choices.
The Deputy Governor noted that many rural dwellers were increasingly abandoning natural, nutrient-rich food sources such as snails and periwinkles for beef, chicken, and iced fish, which they consider more “civilized.” He urged CS-SUNN to expand its structure to all eight local government areas of the state for wider impact.
“There is a compelling need to break the vicious cycle of poor nutrition through effective communication and advocacy,” Ewhrudjakpo stated, adding that the government would also look into issues surrounding the non-utilization of nutrition funds in the state’s annual budget.
He emphasized the importance of tailoring advocacy messages in the various Ijaw dialects, including Kolokuma, Epie-Atissa, and Ogbia, to ensure that the message resonates with grassroots communities.
Earlier, the State Coordinator of CS-SUNN, Mrs. Unity Ototo, alongside Project Lead, Mr. Ambrose Evhoesor, and Senior Project Officer, Mr. Kunle Ishola, expressed concern over the state of child nutrition in Bayelsa.
They noted that CS-SUNN has presence in 30 states and the Federal Capital Territory, and urged the Bayelsa government to ensure full utilization of funds allocated to nutrition. The team also advocated for the approval of six months’ maternity leave for nursing mothers to promote exclusive breastfeeding.
