From David Hassan, Gombe
The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) said it has donated 5,830 cartons of Ready to Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) to help tackle high burden of malnutrition in Gombe state.
The Chief of field office UNICEF Bauchi field office, Dr. Nuzhat Rafique made this known in Gombe, when she hand over the commodity to Gombe state government on Thursday.
Rafique lauded Gombe state government which she said in the past three years, they have demonstrated exemplary leadership in the areas of nutrition and health through consistent of releasing funds for service delivery.
She revealed that the the Child Nutrition Match Fund, is been supported by donors that includes the government of the United Kingdom, the Children Investment Fund Foundation, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and other partners that are being manage by UNICEF through a unique match funding instrument.
According to her, Gombe state has rated as one of the adopters of Child Nutrition Fund which she said they released the sum of N175million in 2023 which was match the same amount by UNICEF.
She also explained that the donation of the commodity to the state government was aimed at treating the 6,529 children with severe malnutrition in the state.
According to her, in Nigeria, malnutrition is on the rise, and is it currently forcing the displacement and uprise in food insecurity which has caused limited food accessibility.
She added that Nigeria is currently the highest number of Malnourished Children in Africa and second largest globally with over 9 million children wasted.
She noted that Gombe state has a high burden of malnutrition with 51 percent of children who are stunted with 8.8 are wasted while 64, percent of pregnant women suffer from anemia 1.
She further revealed that over 80 percent of children in the state suffer from poverty without access to food and do not consume diet to support their growth.
The UNICEF scribe however, encouraged the state government to approve six months paid parental leave in the state to protect infant health and nutrition and support exclusive breastfeeding.
She assured that UNICEF will continue to partner with the state and work across key sectors to improve nutrition and health outcomes indigenes of Gombe state including women and children.
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