From ABBAS GUNGURA, Bauchi
The Chief of Field Office of UNICEF Bauchi, Dr. Nuzhat Rafique, has commended the Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, for releasing N300 million into the Child Nutrition Fund (CNF) to tackle malnutrition among under-five children.
She made this known during a press conference held at the UNICEF Conference Hall in Bauchi, where she revealed that UNICEF would provide an additional N300 million to make a matching grant of N600 million for nutrition supplies.
Dr. Rafique appreciated the state government for the timely release of the funds, stressing that it had saved many children who could have perished due to malnutrition.
She explained that the release was in response to a courtesy call by the new UNICEF Country Representative, Wafaa Saeed, to Governor Bala Mohammed, during which the governor pledged to increase support to N1 billion in 2026.
The UNICEF official said the governor further promised to raise the threshold further to strengthen child nutrition interventions.
She also acknowledged the contribution of the 20 local government councils in Bauchi under ALGON, which collectively provided N100 million to make up the N300 million total contribution from the state government.
According to her, because malnutrition prevention was better than treatment, UNICEF was collaborating with traditional leaders, religious leaders, local government officials and communities to eradicate the menace.
She noted that the intervention would support the procurement of ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) for malnourished children in the state.
Dr. Rafique further emphasized the importance of long-term strategies, including behaviour change and local solutions, to prevent malnutrition.
She explained that UNICEF’s focus extended beyond treatment to promoting proper child feeding practices and maternal care from conception to the early days of a child’s life.
She disclosed that malnutrition affected physical growth, cognitive development and overall well-being, stressing that “no child should suffer or die of malnutrition.”