Gombe Gov’t Distributes Complementary Food To 2,000 Malnourished Children

By Najib Sani, Gombe

To address acute malnutrition among children in the state, Gombe State government through the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation and the Ministry of Education produced complementary anti-malnutrition foods tagged ‘Garin Inuwa’ for distribution to about 2,000 affected children selected across the state.

Our correspondent reports that a survey showed that not less than 51 per cent children in the state are malnourished and stunted.

Deputy governor of the state, Manasseh Daniel Jatau, flagged off the distribution of the complementary foods on Saturday at Education Resource Centre (ERC).

He explained that the initiative was a step towards eradicating malnutrition among children in the state.

The deputy governor emphasised the importance of good feeding for children, particularly at the infant and toddler stage, to ensure they grow healthy and thrive.

He said the state government was committed to eradicating malnutrition among children, charging women to learn how to produce complementary foods, not only to feed their children but also to teach others.

The state commissioner for education, Aishatu Maigari, explained that the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation produced the complementary foods, while the Ministry of Education trains women and students on how to prepare them.

According to her, they trained 200 women and 300 secondary schools students so far on the production of the anti-malnutrition food so that they would collectively help to end child malnutrition in the state.