Gombe State government in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has procured 5,830 cartons of Ready-to-use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) to treat about 6,529 children suffering from malnutrition in the state.
The RUTF procurement is a result of Gombe State’s contribution to the Child Nutrition Fund coordinated by UNICEF.
Speaking during the handover of the food to the state government through the deputy governor, Manasseh Jatau, UNICEF’s chief of Bauchi field office, which is in charge of Bauchi, Gombe, Taraba, Adamawa and Plateau States, Dr Nuzhat Rafique, explained that the Child Nutrition Match Fund, is supported by donors like the UK Government, the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, to combat malnutrition and safeguard the lives of children.
She noted that over nine million children have been lost to malnutrition in Nigeria.
The chief of the field office also revealed that Gombe State has a high burden of malnutrition, with 51 percent of children stunted, 8.8 percent wasted, and 64 percent of pregnant women suffering from anemia and urged the state government to release more resources in 2025 to procure additional commodities and conduct further nutrition interventions.
“We commend the state government on the release of funds under the CNF (Child Nutrition Fund) which has led to the procurement of the RUTF being handed over, and the successful completion of two rounds of MNCHW weeks in 2024,” she said.
In his response, the state’s deputy governor, Manasseh Jatau said the partnership has enabled the state to double its investment in essential nutrition commodities adding that the procurement of the RUTF is a testament to Gombe State’s exemplary leadership in nutrition and health.
According to him, over the years, the state has consistently released funds, delivered services and maintained a strong partnership to address malnutrition in the state.
