Gombe government Partners UNICEF to Combat Rising Malnutrition Rates
By Auwal Ahmad, Gombe
The Northeast region of Nigeria continues to face a silent crisis, with alarming malnutrition rates among children and women. Recent reports from health and nutrition experts reveal that over 2 million children under the age of five are at risk of acute malnutrition, underscoring the region’s ongoing humanitarian challenges.
In response, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), in collaboration with the Gombe State Government, has procured 5,830 cartons of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF). These life-saving supplies are expected to treat approximately 6,529 children suffering from severe wasting in the state.
Speaking at the public presentation of the RUTF cartons, Chief of UNICEF’s Bauchi Field Office, Dr. Nuzhat Rafique, applauded the Gombe State Government for prioritizing child health and nutrition.
“Gombe State has shown exceptional leadership in nutrition and health by consistently releasing funds, delivering services, and creating an enabling environment. The state’s contribution of 175 million Naira in 2023, matched by UNICEF, has made this critical intervention possible,” Dr. Rafique said.
The initiative benefits from the Child Nutrition Match Fund, supported by donors like the UK Government, the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. This unique funding mechanism enables governments to double their investments in essential nutrition resources.
Despite these efforts, Dr. Rafique highlighted the high malnutrition burden in Gombe State, where 51% of children are stunted, 8.8% are wasted, and 64% of pregnant women suffer from anemia. She urged the state government to allocate additional resources in 2025 to sustain and expand these interventions.
UNICEF also called for ongoing support to tackle Nigeria’s malnutrition crisis, noting that the country has the highest number of malnourished children in Africa and the second highest globally.
Dr. Manassah Jatau, Deputy Governor of Gombe State, praised the collaboration with UNICEF, pledging to ensure the effective use of the RUTF supplies. “We are committed to safeguarding the health and nutrition of our children and women,” he affirmed.
This partnership serves as a beacon of hope in addressing the region’s silent hunger crisis, as stakeholders work together to improve the lives of the most vulnerable.
