Adamawa State government has paid N100 million as counterpart fund to tackle all forms of malnutrition, particularly in the area of anaemia and stunting
The chief of field office, UNICEF Bauchi Field Office, Dr Tushar Rane, who disclosed the state’s action, spoke at the launch of food and nutrition policy for the state in Yola, the state capital.
Rane said the fund would help in tackling “chronic food poverty, promote exclusive breast feeding and improve child minimum dietary” for women and children in the state.
The nutrition specialist Philomena Irene, who spoke for the chief of field office of UNICEF, said 415,625 children under the age of five are estimated to be suffering from moderate acute malnutrition and severe acute malnutrition which is a dangerous condition to children in the state.
“It is our hope that the new policy will provide an overarching framework covering the multi dimensions of food and nutrition improvement”.
She said ensuring proper nutrition of children plays a leading role in averting death of children.
Earlier, the deputy governor, Professor Kaletapwa George Farauta, who represented the governor said government aimed to enhance food security, improve maternal and child health and fortify educational programs with nutritional specific and nutrition sensitive approach
She said the initiative reflect government collective support to tackle hunger, malnutrition in the state.
In his remarks, the commissioner for health and human services, Mr Felix Tangwami, said the policy lunch was aimed at attaining an optimal nutrition status by the year 2025.
“This was what informed the need to demonstrate the policy plan in Adamawa as directed by the governor,” he said.
