THE Gombe government says it has procured 5,830 cartons of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Foods (RUTF), to enhance treatment of malnourished children in the state.
The commodities were procured in collaboration between the state government and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) under its Child Nutrition Fund (CNF).
Dr Nuzhat Rafique, UNICEF Chief of Field Office, Bauchi, said this during the presentation of the items to the Gombe State Deputy Governor, Mansassah Jatau, on Thursday in Gombe.
She said that the CNF, a unique match-funding initiative supported by donors like the UK Government, the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, facilitated the procurement of the lifesaving commodities.
Rafique said the Gombe governmnet in 2023, contributed N175 million matching fund for procurement of RUTF to treat 6,529 children suffering from severe malnutrition.
The UNICEF official said malnutrition statistics indicated that over nine million children were wasted in Nigeria, with Gombe state bearing a 51 per cent of stunted children, 8.8 per cent wasted, and 64 per cent of pregnant women anemic.
She, however, said the state has made significant strides by completing two rounds of Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Weeks (MNCHWs) in 2024, in spite of the challenges.
Rafique called for increase funding in 2025, to sustain the feat, adding that, “we encourage the state to conduct two rounds of MNCHWs in 2025, and procure sufficient deworming tablets for children aged 12–59 months.”
She also advocated for a six-month paid parental leave to support exclusive breastfeeding and protect infant health, stressing that the UN agency would partner with the state, to improve health and nutrition outcomes.
She commended the state government for its exemplary leadership in nutrition and healthcare service delivery in the last three years.
Responding, Jatau said the commodities would be distributed promptly to the targeted population.
He assured that the state government would fulfil outstanding obligations, to ensure effective implementation of health and nutrition programmes.
