By: Aisha Mohammed
Chief of Field Office, United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, Bauchi, Dr. Nuzhat Rafique, has revealed that over 80% of children in Adamawa State suffer from child food poverty, with 48.6% of children stunted, 7% wasted, and 36% of pregnant women anemic.
She made this statement during the official handover of 4,290 cartons of Small Quantity Lipid-Based Nutrient Supplement, SQ-LNS, to the Adamawa State Government at the State Primary Healthcare Development Agency in Yola.
Dr. Nuzhat Rafique emphasized that lack of access to a diverse diet necessary for growth and development is a major cause of malnutrition among children, a challenge that remains significant in Nigeria, especially in Adamawa State.
She commended the exemplary leadership of the Adamawa State Government in the areas of nutrition and health, through consistent funds release, service delivery and strong enabling environment, and further urged government to continue to invest more resources in 2025.
Dr. Rafique also encouraged the government to conduct two rounds of Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week, MNCHWs, in 2025 and procure deworming tablets in sufficient quantities to reach all children 12-59 months in the state which UNICEF will also match to procure more commodities through the Child Nutrition Fund.
Reaffirming UNICEF’s commitment, the Chief of Field Office, UNICEF Bauchi, Dr. Nuzhat Rafique assured that the organization will continue its partnership with the state government to improve nutrition and health outcomes for children and women in Adamawa State.
Expressing appreciation for UNICEF’s intervention, the Commissioner for Health, Adamawa State, Felix Tangwami, attributed the high rate of malnutrition among children to the effects of conflict and insurgency in the region.
On his part, the Executive Chairman, Adamawa State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. Suleiman Bashir expressed delight over the swift response of the State Government in its effort to improving and protecting the healthcare needs of its people especially those at the grassroot.
In a vote of thanks, Director Nutrition of the Agency, Haruna Mohammed pledged the Agency’s commitment in ensuring that the commodity reaches the target beneficiaries, adding that the supplement will go a long way in addressing malnutrition and other health related issues in Adamawa State.
