UNICEF hands over N600m, life -saving nutrition commodities to Bauchi government
By Sule Aliyu Bauchi
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) handed over life-saving nutrition commodities worth over N600m to the Bauchi State Government to eradicate malnutrition among U-5 children in the state
The communities comprising, 4,562 cartons of ready-to-use therapeutic foods (RUTF) and 15,419 cartons of Small Quantity Lipid-based Nutrient Supplement (SQLNS),
In addition to the nutrition commodities supplies, 601 healthcare workers have been trained to deliver the services across selected health facilities in the state.
The commodities were procured through a contribution of N600m between the state government, which paid N300m in conjunction with the 20 LGAs, and matched by the UNICEF through the Children Nutrition Fund (CNF) to the tune of N300m
While receiving the commodities at the Government Store located at the BSADP headquarters, Governor Bala Abdulkadir Muhammad, stressed that the commodities are to be used for the treatment of Severe Acute Malnutrition for children aged 6 to 59 months and Small Quantity Lipid Based Nutrient Supplements, a supplement meant for the prevention of Malnutrition among Children 6 -23 months.
Represented by his Deputy, Rt Hon Muhammad Auwal Jatau, the Governor stated that, “You may wish to note that, strengthening Primary Healthcare services include, reproductive, maternal new-born and child health care, nutrition, immunization and other primary health services, which remain the top most priority of the present administration.”
According to him, “It is indeed important to note that, we gather today to receive nutrition commodities, such as RUTF and SQLNS procured by Bauchi State Government through UNICEF under the Child Nutrition Fund. Government of Bauchi State Contributed N300,000,000 last year , for investing in Child Nutrition Funds matching grant and the state plan to release 500,000,000 this year.”
He assured that government is committed to reducing malnutrition and childhood morbidity and mortality in the adding that government will remain committed to the Abuja declaration by allocating 15% and above of the total State Budget allocation to the Health Sector.
He added that, “I also wish to reiterate the commitment of the state to fulfilling all government’s obligations and payment of counterpart funds including Primary Health Care Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) contributions and non-MOU counterpart funds.”
According to him,”Last year alone, the Government released over N872,000,000 as state counterpart fund into the PHC MOU Basket fund account operated by both Bauchi State Primary Health Care Board.
Following the release of the matching grant, I wish to use this opportunity to appreciate the commitment of UNICEF Bauchi Field office and any other partner Supporting the State for their continue support to ensure Women and Children of Bauchi are healthy and thriving well.”
Muhammad re-assured the people of Bauchi state that, the Government is committed to their wellbeing, especially pregnant women, women of child bearing age and children under five years.
The Governor then direct the Primary Health Care Board through the State Ministry of Health to re-constitute a committee that will monitor the distribution and utilization of these basic essential commodities to reach the target beneficiaries, and report back to the Hon. Commissioner of Health.
Earlier in his key note address, Commissioner, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Dr Sani Muhammad GGDambam, informed the gathering that the state indices for maternal and child malnutrition according NDHS 2023/2024, recorded 61.7% stunted children, wasting is at 5.2% and anaemia in women 15 – 49 years old is at the rate of 68.6%. (NDHS 2018).
According to him, “This calls for an emergency preventive and curative interventions to reduce the prevalence of aneamia in women of child bearing age , decrease malnutrition and under five mortality in the state. Bauchi state government is committed to working with development partners especially UNICEF to improve nutritional status of women and children through provision of adequate fund and ensure availability of nutrition commodities, through child nutrition fund, harmonize PHC annual operational plan and the state budget.”
He also informed the gathering that the day was a milestone in the effort to improve the child nutrition and reduce maternal mortality .
According to him, another remarkable development, is that the state has succeeded in inaugurating 20 local government committees on food and nutrition headed by the Deputy Chairperson of each LGA that will work together with the state committee on foods and nutrition chaired by the Permanent Secretary, Bauchi State Ministry of Budget, Economic Planning and Multilateral Coordination who transmit the feedback to the State Council on Nutrition headed by the Deputy Governor.
The Commissioner appreciated the long standing relationship that exist between the State government and the development partners, especially UNICEF, BMGF, WHO, and other critical partners that support the health system in the state.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the State chapter of the All Local Government Association of Nigeria (ALGON), Mahmood Babamaji, extended most profound appreciation to the Governor for his unwavering support and commitment towards ensuring quality healthcare service delivery in the State.
He stressed that ALGON, as a critical stakeholder in governance at the grassroots level, is highly delighted to witness the all-important occasion—the official handing over of the therapeutic foods and the Small Quantity Lipid-Based Nutrient Supplements.
According to him, “During our last stakeholder engagement in Plateau State with UNICEF and other government functionaries, the challenge of malnutrition was strongly highlighted and emphasized. Today, we are pleased to see that concrete action has been taken, as these commodities have been procured with the support and commitment of Your Excellency.”
Bauchi LGC boss added that, “The local governments have also demonstrated strong support. With the approval and encouragement of Your Excellency, the 20 Local Government Chairpersons collectively contributed the sum of ₦100 million toward this initiative. This clearly shows the commitment of the local governments to improving the health and nutrition status of our people.”
“Your Excellency, we sincerely appreciate this support and leadership. We strongly believe that this giant step will significantly assist in reducing malnutrition and will go a long way in changing the narrative in Bauchi State, Insha’Allah.”
He then reaffirmed the commitment of the Local Government Areas to addressing the challenge of zero-dose children, saying,”As discussed during our recent evening review and debriefing sessions, we remain fully committed to tackling this issue.”
He concluded saying, “I also want to assure UNICEF and the Bauchi State Government that the Local Government Authorities will closely monitor the distribution of these commodities and ensure their effective utilization.”
On the issue if diversion of the commodity, he stated that, “I heard the Honourable Commissioner mention the issue of diversion. Honourable Commissioner, we want to assure you that the local governments will remain vigilant and fully committed to ensuring that diversion does not occur in any of our LGAs.”
While handing over the commodities to the Government, Chief of Field, UNICEF Bauchi Field Office, Dr Nuzhat Rafique, stated that, “Trust me that Bauchi State is one of the States with the highest prevalence of malnutrition. More than 61 percent of children from 6 months to 23 months of age are undernutrition, malnourished. And approximately 92,000 children are wasted, 61% are stunted.”
According to her, “So the situation is very dire. We need to promote not only the therapeutic foods and SQLNS use, but also we need to prevent malnutrition at the household level by the provision of proper food and practices, nutrition practices at the family level.”
Nuzhat Rafique added,”So that is something which is very, very important. And this N300 million is matched by Child Nutrition Fund through UNICEF. So I am also grateful to government of UK, the Kirk Foundation, and the Child Investment Fund Foundation who are funding this Child Nutrition Fund.”
According to her,”We were able to match N300 million from Bauchi state with the N300 million from the CNF, Child Nutrition Fund. So that has made these commodities available. And I think this is a very important and critical moment.”
Earlier, the Executive Chairman of the Bauchi State Primary Healthcare Board, Dr Rilwanu Muhammad, explained that the commodities were procured through the matching grant arrangement between UNICEF and the state government.
He called on UNICEF to expand Food and Nutrition Committees to 10 additional Local Government Areas, in addition to the 10 already established by the state government, to strengthen community awareness on proper nutrition for mothers and children.
Dr Rilwanu also appealed to the State House of Assembly to expedite action on the proposed six-month maternity leave for nursing mothers, noting that the policy would help improve maternal and child health outcomes.
He explained that RUTF is used to treat children suffering from severe acute malnutrition, while SQLNS helps prevent malnutrition among children.
