Bauchi Govt, UNICEF Commit N1bn To Tackle Malnutrition, Distribute Therapeutic Food

Executive chairman of the Bauchi State Primary Healthcare Development Board, Dr Rilwanu Mohammed, has said that rising poverty and inflation have contributed to increasing cases of malnutrition among children in the state.

Rilwanu said the situation prompted the state government to partner with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Child Nutrition Fund (CNF) under a matching grant arrangement.

Rilwanu stated this while briefing journalists in Bauchi on the distribution of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) aimed at addressing Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) among children under five years. He assured that the state government is committed to improving healthcare outcomes for women and children through expanded nutrition interventions across the state.

He explained that the Bauchi State government contributed N300 million, which was matched by UNICEF with another N300 million, bringing the total intervention fund to N600 million for maternal and child nutrition commodities.

Dr. Mohammed revealed that 4,842 cartons of RUTF had been procured and distributed to Community-Based Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) centres across the state to treat children suffering from severe acute malnutrition.

He further disclosed that 15,000 cartons of Small Quantity Lipid-Based Nutrient Supplements (SQLNS), equivalent to about 15 million doses, were also supplied and distributed to vulnerable communities as a preventive measure against malnutrition.

According to him, Bauchi was among seven states identified by a federal government survey as having a high burden of malnutrition and became the first state to commit its own resources to procuring SQLNS for preventive nutrition programmes.

“The distribution is ongoing. These supplements are targeted at healthy children who are at risk of malnutrition, helping to prevent them from sliding into severe nutritional deficiencies,” he said.

The board chairman also highlighted ongoing efforts to improve maternal nutrition through the introduction of Multiple Micronutrient Supplements (MMS) for pregnant women, replacing the traditional iron and folic acid regimen.

He said the state government had incorporated MMS into its nutrition programme under the UNICEF-supported initiative, noting that additional supplies recently cleared at the nation’s ports were already on their way to Bauchi.

Although about 30,000 cartons of MMS are currently available, Dr. Mohammed noted that the quantity remains insufficient to meet growing demand across the state.

He disclosed that Bauchi was the first state in Nigeria to pilot the use of MMS, recording positive outcomes in two local government areas before expanding the programme statewide.

“We are scaling up the intervention across all 20 local government areas because the governor considers malnutrition a priority issue, especially given the economic challenges facing many families,” he said.

Dr. Rilwanu Mohammed further revealed that Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed had approved an increase in the state’s nutrition counterpart funding from N300 million to N500 million this year.

He explained that UNICEF is expected to provide a matching contribution, bringing the total investment for maternal and child nutrition programmes to N1 billion once the funds are fully released.

The chairman said the additional resources would strengthen the state’s capacity to manage severe, moderate and mild malnutrition cases while improving nutritional support for pregnant women.

He noted that MMS has been widely accepted by beneficiaries, with increasing demand from pregnant women due to its effectiveness in preventing anemia and improving maternal health outcomes.

Dr. Mohammed stressed the importance of sustaining nutrition interventions beyond donor support, adding that the government was exploring mechanisms to ensure long-term availability and affordability of critical commodities.

He also disclosed that proposals to introduce calcium supplements into maternal healthcare services would be subjected to national approval processes and evidence-based review before implementation.

Highlighting the importance of nutrition investments, he said SQLNS helps prevent anaemia, malaria and malnutrition among children, while RUTF remains a critical treatment option for severe acute malnutrition cases.

“No nation can prosper if its children are dying from preventable conditions. Children are the future of society, and investing in their health and nutrition is investing in the future of the state and the country,” he stated.