Bauchi government receives N600m nutrition supplements from UNICEF

The United Nations Children’s Fund has delivered nutrition supplies valued at about N600 million to the Bauchi State Government to support efforts to treat and prevent malnutrition among children.

The items include Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food and Small Quantity Lipid-Based Nutrient Supplements, procured through the Child Nutrition Fund.

Speaking at the handover ceremony in Bauchi on Saturday, the Chief of the UNICEF Bauchi Field Office, Dr Nuzhat Rafique, said the consignment consists of 4,562 cartons of RUTF and 15,419 cartons of SQLNS, aimed at tackling severe and moderate malnutrition in children.

She noted that Bauchi remains among the states with a high prevalence of child malnutrition, stressing the importance of improving nutrition practices at the household level. According to her, about 16 per cent of children aged six months to three years in the state are undernourished.

Rafique emphasised the need to complement therapeutic feeding with better awareness and proper child nutrition practices at home.

She explained that the supplies were secured through a matching grant arrangement, with the Bauchi State Government contributing N300 million, matched by the Child Nutrition Fund through UNICEF, bringing the total to N600 million.

Highlighting the situation among internally displaced persons, Rafique revealed that a recent assessment at an IDP camp in Kashere found more than 80 per cent of children to be malnourished, with many also suffering from anaemia and requiring urgent intervention.

She called for immediate mobilisation of resources to support displaced residents, estimating that at least 200 cartons of RUTF and 100 cartons of SQLNS are needed to address urgent cases in the camp.

Rafique also commended the state government for pledging N500 million for child nutrition programmes in 2026, expressing hope that the amount would be matched to boost the availability of life-saving nutrition supplies.

Receiving the items on behalf of the government, Governor Bala Mohammed, represented by his deputy, Auwal Jatau, assured that the supplements would be properly utilised to address severe acute malnutrition among children.

He explained that the RUTF would be used to treat children aged six to 59 months, while SQLNS would help prevent malnutrition among children aged six to 23 months.

He described the donation as a strong indication of continued collaboration aimed at improving child health and wellbeing in the state.

The governor added that the initiative aligns with efforts to strengthen primary healthcare, particularly in maternal, newborn, and child health, nutrition, and immunisation.

He noted that the state had earlier contributed N300 million to the Child Nutrition Fund in 2025 and pledged increased investment in child nutrition.

Mohammed also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the Abuja Declaration, which recommends allocating at least 15 per cent of annual budgets to the health sector.

He directed the state Primary Health Care Development Board, through the Ministry of Health, to set up a monitoring committee to ensure proper distribution and effective use of the supplies so they reach the intended beneficiaries.