UNICEF Partners with Gombe State to Combat Severe Malnutrition in Children Under Five
In a significant move to address acute severe malnutrition among children under five, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has handed over a consignment of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) to the Gombe State Government. The presentation was made during the quarterly meeting of the Taskforce on Primary Healthcare, held at the Deputy Governor’s Office in Gombe on Friday.
The Chief of Field Office, Bauchi UNICEF Field Office, Dr. Nuzhat Rafique, emphasized UNICEF’s commitment to partnering with the state to tackle child malnutrition. She highlighted that Gombe State contributed N175 million as a counterpart fund to the initiative. Stressing the importance of investing in children, Dr. Rafique stated, “Children are the future of the next generation,” underscoring the need for a healthy and productive society.
The meeting, chaired by Deputy Governor Dr. Manassah Daniel Jatau, reviewed the performance of the taskforce in the previous quarter and discussed strategies to achieve its healthcare objectives. Dr. Jatau acknowledged the taskforce’s progress while urging members to identify areas for improvement. He remarked, “Health is the driver of other sectors in society. When health is compromised, everything else fails.”
During the event, Dr. Rafique officially handed over cartons of RUTF to the Deputy Governor. These packages are part of the collaborative effort between UNICEF and the Gombe State Government to curb malnutrition among children in the state. Dr. Jatau assured stakeholders that the resources would be used judiciously to make a meaningful impact.
Commending Gombe State’s healthcare achievements, a representative of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum praised the state for ranking as the second-best in healthcare delivery in the northeast region. Similarly, Barrister Haruna, Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in Gombe State, acknowledged the political will of the state government to provide quality healthcare services.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Habu Dahiru, and the Executive Secretary of the State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Abdulrahman Shuaibu, outlined the meeting’s purpose, which included assessing the implementation of previous policies and creating a comprehensive work plan for 2025. They emphasized the importance of integration and synergy in healthcare activities to overcome future challenges.
Key presentations were also made by officials, including Mr. Abdulkadir Mohammed Aliyu, Project Manager of SERICC, and Mr. Felix Habila Gambo, Director of Planning, Research, and Statistics at the State Primary Healthcare Development Agency. Updates on the state’s healthcare performance indicators and progress on initiatives such as Outbreak Response (OBR) and Primary Healthcare (PHC) were provided.
The meeting concluded with a renewed call for collaboration, innovation, and sustained efforts to improve healthcare delivery in Gombe State. The government also announced plans to implement policies promoting cleanliness in homes and offices, aimed at fostering a healthier environment for all.
This partnership between UNICEF and Gombe State underscores the critical importance of collective action in addressing malnutrition and ensuring a healthier future for children.
