EU-Backed UNICEF Programme Saves Over 40,000 Malnourished Children in Yobe

EU-Backed UNICEF Programme Saves Over 40,000 Malnourished Children in Yobe

By Jamila Muhammad

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has revealed that thousands of vulnerable children in Yobe State are benefitting from sustained nutrition interventions supported by the European Union, with more than 40,000 malnourished children receiving life-saving treatment.

UNICEF’s Malnutrition Manager, Joseph Senesie, disclosed these figures during a media field visit and virtual dialogue held in Damaturu on Monday. He noted that the annual lean season, which spans from May to September, often worsens cases of acute malnutrition among children, making timely interventions critical.

Senesie expressed optimism that 2026 may witness a decline in malnutrition rates compared to previous years, attributing the progress to strong humanitarian backing from the European Union, particularly through its Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations.

He said that the intervention has made Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) available, which is an important treatment that helps malnourished children recover faster. “With RUTF, children get better quickly and can return to a healthy life in a short time,” he mentioned, pointing out the positive results from the teamwork between UNICEF, government agencies, and development partners.

Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of the Yobe State Primary Health Care Board, Dr. Babagana Machina, described malnutrition as a serious public health challenge fueled by food shortages, disease outbreaks, and displacement caused by insecurity.

Machina noted that EU assistance has significantly strengthened nutrition services across the state, ensuring consistent supply of therapeutic food and milk. He added that no fewer than 306 health facilities are currently providing Outpatient Therapeutic Programme (OTP) treatments to affected children.

He further explained that enhanced community screening and improved data management systems have enabled early detection and faster response to cases of acute malnutrition, especially in hard-to-reach communities.

In her remarks, the State Nutrition Officer, Hajiya Hadiza Adamu, commended UNICEF and the European Union for their continued support, describing their interventions as critical to improving child health outcomes in Yobe.

She revealed that while malnutrition rates dropped to about eight per cent in 2022, the figure rose to 10.9 per cent in 2023, placing the state under IPC Phase Three classification. However, she expressed confidence that with sustained efforts, Yobe aims to move to Phase Two by the end of 2026.

Adamu added that the state currently operates 306 OTP (Outpatient Therapeutic Program) centres, 120 supplementary feeding centres, and several stabilisation facilities, all contributing to improved access to treatment and recovery for malnourished children.

Despite the progress, she warned that persistent challenges such as insecurity, flooding, and food shortages continue to threaten gains made so far, stressing the need for continuous expansion of nutrition interventions to safeguard the future of children in the state.