The Federal Government has been urged to prioritise access to water, nutritious, safe and affordable diets in Nigeria in commemoration of the 2023 World Food Day that took place on Monday.
The Country Director, Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), Micheal Ojo said this in a statement issued by the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation (FMINO).
Ojo addressed a press conference to mark the 2023 World Food Day with tThe theme: “Water is Life, Water is Food. Leave No One Behind.”
“At GAIN, we believe that access to clean water is not only essential for survival but also plays a vital role in ensuring food security and better diets for all,” he said.
“One of the biggest challenges we face today is increasing food production to meet the needs of an increasing population while using less water.
“So, it is critical to improve the productivity, efficiency, and environmental impact of how we use water in our food system.
“As we commemorate World Food Day, we would like to see stronger coordination and synergies between water and food systems actors that will result in robust water, food security and nutrition strategies.”
Ojo said that additionally, strategies should intentionally address the challenges faced by the most vulnerable.
He stated that this is because food insecurity and a lack of access to clean water are pushing millions of mothers and their children into hunger and severe malnutrition, with grave consequences for their lives and well-being.
As a result, the GAIN Country Director said that adolescent girls, women and children’s access to water, nutritious, safe, and affordable diets should be prioritized.
Source: Theguardian