United Nations Children’s Fund (UNISEF) has spent over N6 billion for the treatment of children with Severe Acute Malnutrition in Jigawa state in the last ten years. ( 2009-2019)
This was disclosed by the chief of Unicef Bauchi field office Mr Bhanu Than. He revealed this at a ceremony for the handing over of new consignment of Ready To Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) to the state government for the treatments of more children.
He said, UNICEF has been working in collaboration with the other donor partners such as Department for international Development (DFID ) Children Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF) and the state government for the supply of the RUTF and treatment of the children with severe acute malnutrition.
Bhanu explained that, beside the treatments of the affected children UNICEF is also working along with community volunteers? and other stakeholder in promoting better practice for infants and young child feeding.
The chief field officer added that, the new concernment of RUTF was purchase at the total coast of N300 million with the state given 50% counter funding and 50% from UNICEF.
According to him “17,420 cartons of RUTF is handed over to the Jigawa state government and more than 29,355 children with severe acute malnutrition will benefit from the life saving commodities”.
Bhanu reiterated the commitment of UNICEF to continue supporting Jigawa state to tackle the challenges of child malnutrition in the state.
In his respond while receiving the commodities, the secretary to the state Government, Abdulkadir Abubakar Fanini thanked UNICEF and other stakeholders in supporting the state to improve its public healthcare service delivery.
He re-affirmed the commitment of the state government towards ensuring balance diet for the family to tackle child malnutrition through its comprehensive program “Jigawa Food and Nutrition policy”.
Also speaking the executive secretary state primary healthcare board Doctor Kabir Ibrahim described the state “Masaki Project” (IYCF) in which communities are directly involve as the best method adopted in preventing children from falling in to malnutrition stage.
