By
Jamilu Abubakar
The Gombe State Government says it is strengthening measures to tackle malnutrition and ensure that nutritional interventions reach children who need them across the state.
Commissioner for Science, Technology and Innovation, Habu Dahiru, stated this at the handing over of eleven thousand, five hundred and eighty cartons of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food, RUTF, supplied by the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, for the treatment of children with severe acute malnutrition.
Habu Dahiru said adequate nutrition was critical to raising children who are physically healthy and mentally sound, stressing that investing in their nutritional needs would contribute significantly to their growth and development.
He explained that the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation was also producing locally developed nutritious food in large quantities to complement interventions by UNICEF and other development partners in tackling malnutrition.
According to the Commissioner, the ministry is collaborating with the North-East Development Commission to expand its production facility to increase output and extend the intervention to neighbouring states.
Habu Dahiru expressed the ministry’s readiness to strengthen collaboration with UNICEF and other development partners to expand the production of locally made nutritious food, particularly to address moderate malnutrition.
He assured that the state government would monitor the distribution of the RUTF to ensure that the supplies reach malnourished children for whom they are intended.
Also speaking, Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Micah Sunday, described UNICEF as a reliable development partner, saying its interventions have continued to complement the state government’s efforts towards improving the health and development of children.
Micah Sunday said tackling malnutrition would help children develop physically and mentally, perform better in education and grow into healthy and productive members of society.
Earlier, the Chief of UNICEF Bauchi Field Office, Dr Nuzhat Rafique, commended the Gombe State Government for providing five hundred million naira counterpart funding for nutrition interventions in 2025.
Dr Rafique explained that the five hundred million naira was matched with an equal amount through the Child Nutrition Fund, facilitating the provision of RUTF for children suffering from severe acute malnutrition in Gombe State.
She called on Mama2Mama and Fathers for Good Health groups to intensify sensitisation at the community level on the proper use of RUTF, stressing that the therapeutic food is specifically meant for children with severe acute malnutrition and should not be diverted or misused.
The UNICEF Chief of Field Office also commended the state government for setting up a committee to prevent diversion, abuse and misuse of supplies, and called for effective monitoring to ensure the commodities reach the intended beneficiaries.
In her remarks, Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Professor Bertha Abdu, appreciated UNICEF for its continued support to the Gombe State Government, particularly interventions targeting women and children.
Professor Bertha Abdu said adequate nutrition remains essential to the survival and development of children, noting that poor nutrition could negatively affect their health, growth and future wellbeing.
