Bauchi Govt, UNICEF Unite Against Child Malnutrition With N600m Intervention

Paul Orude

The Bauchi State Government has received life-saving nutrition commodities worth N600 million from the United Nations Children’s Fund to combat severe acute malnutrition among children under five.

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The consignment includes 4,562 cartons of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) and 15,419 cartons of Small-Quantity Lipid-Based Nutrient Supplements (SQLNS).

The commodities were procured through a joint contribution of N600 million, with Bauchi State Government providing N300 million alongside the 20 Local Government Areas.

The UNICEF matched the amount through the Child Nutrition Fund (CNF).

Receiving the supplies at the Government Store located at the Bauchi State Agricultural Development Programme (BSADP) headquarters, Governor Bala Mohammed, said the commodities would be used to treat severe acute malnutrition among children aged 6–59 months

The governor ,who was represented by his deputy Auwal Jatau, said the intervention would prevent malnutrition among children aged 6–23 months.

He reiterated that strengthening primary healthcare services, maternal and child health, nutrition and immunization remains a priority of his administration.

The governor also directed the State Primary Health Care Board to establish a monitoring committee to ensure proper distribution and use of the commodities.

Meanwhile, the state Ministry of Health and Social Welfare revealed that 601 healthcare workers have been trained to deliver nutrition services in selected health facilities across the state.

Speaking earlier, the Commissioner for Health, Sani Mohammed Dambam, who cited data from the National Demographic and Health Survey, disclosed that 61.7% of children in Bauchi are stunted while anaemia among women aged 15–49 stands at 68.6%.

Also speaking, the Chairman, Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, Mahmood Babamaji, said the 20 local government councils contributed N100 million to support the initiative.

Chief of Field Office, UNICEF Bauchi, Nuzhat Rafique, described the intervention as critical, noting that over 61 percent of children in the state suffer from malnutrition.

She urged families to adopt better feeding and nutrition practices at household level to prevent malnutrition.