Our Nigeria News Magazine
The news is by your side.

Gombe’s N175m Push with UNICEF Sparks Lifeline for Malnourished Children

163

Gombe’s N175m Push with UNICEF Sparks Lifeline for Malnourished Children

By Auwal Umar, Gombe

Gombe State has taken bold steps to combat malnutrition, contributing 175 million Naira in 2023 to secure life-saving nutritional interventions in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). The funds, matched by UNICEF, facilitated the procurement of 5,830 cartons of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) to treat 6,529 children suffering from severe wasting in the state.

“Gombe State has shown exceptional leadership in nutrition and health by consistently releasing funds, delivering services, and creating an enabling environment. The state’s contribution of 175 million Naira in 2023, matched by UNICEF, has made this critical intervention possible,” said Dr. Nuzhat Rafique, Chief of UNICEF’s Bauchi Field Office, at the public presentation of the RUTF supplies.

The initiative, backed by the Child Nutrition Match Fund and supported by donors like the UK Government, the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, doubles government investments in essential nutrition resources.

Despite these efforts, the region continues to face a malnutrition crisis, with 51% of children in Gombe stunted, 8.8% wasted, and 64% of pregnant women suffering from anemia. Dr. Rafique urged the state government to allocate more resources in 2025 to sustain and expand these interventions.

Gombe State Deputy Governor, Dr. Manassah Jatau, commended the collaboration with UNICEF and pledged the effective utilization of the RUTF supplies. “We are committed to safeguarding the health and nutrition of our children and women,” he stated.

This collaboration highlights the critical role of partnerships in addressing Nigeria’s malnutrition burden, as stakeholders continue working to bring hope to the most vulnerable.

Leave A Reply

Your email address will not be published.