85,000 Adamawa children to get lifeline as UNICEF hands-over 4,290 cartons of food supplement to state govt
No fewer than 85,000 children in Adamawa State will be saved from malnutrition and other related scourges as UNICEF hands-over 4,290 cartons of Small Quantity Lipid Based Supplement (SQ-LNS) to Adamawa State government.
The SQ-LNS was procured through the child nutrition fund mechanism (CNF) supported by generous mix of donors including Government of the United Kingdom, the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and other partners.
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The CNF is managed by UNICEF. The CNF is a unique match funding instrument in which UNICEF and its partners match government financing of essential nutrition commodities in a ratio of 1:1, allowing governments to double their investment in essential nutrition commodities to accelerate the scale-up of policies, programmes for the prevention, early detection, and treatment of malnutrition.
SQ-LNS is a food supplement designed mainly to prevent undernutrition and improve child survival, growth and development. It addresses stunting, wasting and anemia and contains 23 minerals and vitamins in addition to protein and energy.
In her speech at the occasion, Dr. Nuzhat Rafique, Chief of Field Office, UNICEF Bauchi office, thanked Adamawa State government over its unwavering commitment to the welfare of the children by always availing its matching fund to ensure the availability of the SQ-LNS for the benefit of the children.
“Adamawa State has often demonstrated exemplary leadership in the areas of nutrition and health through consistent funds release, service delivery and strong enabling environment.
“Adamawa state was one of the early adopters of the Child Nutrition Fund (CNF) in Nigeria. The state released 100 million Naira in 2023. This was matched by the same amount by UNICEF.
“This exemplary contribution from Adamawa state has enabled the government and UNICEF to procure 4,290 cartons of SQLNS which will be used to prevent malnutrition for thousands of children,” she stated.
Rafique noted that malnutrition in children remains a concern in Nigeria noting that 48.6% of Adamawa’s children are stunted, 7% are wasted, and 36% of pregnant women are anemic adding that over 80% of the children in the state suffer from child food poverty and lack access to a diverse diet to support growth and development.
“We urge the government to continue investing even more resources in 2025 which UNICEF will also match to procure more commodities through the CNF.
“We encourage the government to conduct two rounds of MNCHWs in 2025 and procure deworming tablets in sufficient quantities to reach all children 12-59 months in the state. Approve 6 months paid parental leave in the state to protect infant health and nutrition and support exclusive breastfeeding.
“UNICEF will continue to partner with the state and work across key sectors to improve nutrition and health outcomes children and women in Adamawa state,” Rafique assured the state government.
Speaking, Adamawa State commissioner of health and Human Resources, Felix Tangwami thanked UNICEF and other donors for their untiring efforts in helping the state and her children.
He noted that the high level of malnutrition in the state was a consequence of the insecurity which ravaged the state for long resulting in the inability of farmers to access their farm lands and make nutritious food available to their children.
Tangwami also thanked governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri for always being there for the people of the state adding that the government has made serious investment in the social service sector especially the health sector for the benefit of the teeming populace.
He also noted that that since the coming of the Fintiri led government, Adamawa State has been meeting up with all matching funds in the healthcare delivery system to enhance the living conditions of the people.
The commissioner added that last year the government provided N100m matching fund for the food supplement and has also provided another N300m this year as matching fund in order to get the supplement for the children.
He promised to ensure that the supplement gets to every nook and cranny of the state so that all children will benefit from the initiative.
Also speaking the executive chairman of Adamawa State Primary Healthcare Development Agency Dr. Bashir Sulaiman noted that with the provision of the N300m matching fund, the state will get N600m worth of supplement.
He expressed optimism that such quantum of food supplement will in no small measure facilitate the healthy growth of children in Adamawa thanking the state government and other donors for their vision and tireless efforts to better the lot of children in the state.
