Gombe State and UNICEF launch N1 billion support for malnourished kids

The Gombe State government and UNICEF have launched a N1 billion program to fight malnutrition in children across the state.

Both the state government and UNICEF put in N500 million each to fund this initiative. The money will be used to provide Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) for children suffering from severe acute malnutrition.

Abdulrahman Shuaibu, the Executive Secretary of the Gombe State Primary Health Care Development Agency, spoke during a check on the nutrition supplies. He said malnutrition is one of the biggest public health problems in the state.

Mr Shuaibu added that the therapeutic food will be distributed to all local government areas. This is to make sure affected children get the timely treatment and nutrition they need.

“These emergency foods, called Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food, are for managing children with acute malnutrition. The Gombe State Government has given N500 million as matching funds, while UNICEF also added N500 million. This makes the total investment N1 billion,” he said.

He pointed out that the program was needed because of the rising number of malnourished children in the state.

A recent report from the 2023, 2024 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) shows that malnutrition is still a big issue in Gombe and the North-east. Many children are facing serious problems like stunting, wasting, and being underweight.

Mr Shuaibu also mentioned that the government is monitoring the distribution of these foods to ensure everything is done transparently.

“Gombe has many malnourished children. This situation has pushed the government to take strong action. We are keeping a close eye on the distribution to ensure that the food goes to those who need it,” he added.

Abubakar Muhammad, who represents UNICEF’s Vaccine Security and Logistics in Gombe State, also spoke about the program. He said the decision was based on nutrition data showing that many children need urgent help.

“We found that many children are suffering from malnutrition and need these supplements. That is why UNICEF is providing Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food to help these malnourished children,” he said.

Mr Muhammad explained that UNICEF has been working closely with Gombe State for the past seven years. They have supported many health and nutrition programs to improve child health and development.

“UNICEF has been with Gombe State for the last seven years. We are committed to continuing this program and others that help improve the health and nutrition of children,” he added.

Malnutrition is a serious public health issue in Nigeria, especially for kids under five. Severe acute malnutrition lowers immunity and raises the risk of illness and death in affected children.

Health experts say severe acute malnutrition is one of the top causes of sickness and death among children under five, especially in communities with limited access to healthy food.

This new N1 billion program is expected to provide life-saving treatment for thousands of children. It brings renewed hope to families facing the harsh effects of malnutrition.