The United Nations Children’s Fund has handed over nutrition commodities worth about N600 million to the Bauchi State Government to support the treatment and prevention of malnutrition among children.
The items included: Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food and Small Quantity Lipid-Based Nutrient Supplements procured through the Child Nutrition Fund.
Speaking during the handover ceremony in Bauchi on Saturday, the Chief of the UNICEF Bauchi Field Office, Dr Nuzhat Rafique, said the supplies comprised 4,562 cartons of RUTF and 15,419 cartons of SQLNS aimed at addressing severe and moderate malnutrition among children.
Rafique noted that Bauchi remains one of the states with a high burden of child malnutrition, stressing the need for improved nutrition practices at the household level.
According to her, “Bauchi is among the states with the highest prevalence of malnutrition. About 16 per cent of children aged six months to three years are undernourished.
“We must not only focus on therapeutic foods like RUTF and SQLNS but also promote proper nutrition practices at the household level through adequate feeding and awareness.”
She explained that the commodities were procured through a matching grant arrangement, where the Bauchi State Government contributed N300 million, which was matched with another N300 million by the Child Nutrition Fund through UNICEF, making the total value of the supplies N600 million.
Rafique also highlighted the alarming nutrition situation among internally displaced persons in the region.
She disclosed that during a recent nutrition assessment at an IDP camp in Kashere, more than 80 per cent of the children were found to be malnourished, adding that many were also anaemic and in urgent need of nutritional and medical support.
She called for urgent mobilisation of resources to support displaced Bauchi residents currently in camps, noting that about 200 cartons of RUTF and 100 cartons of SQLNS would be required to address the immediate needs of malnourished children there.
Rafique further commended the Bauchi State Government for pledging N500 million for child nutrition interventions in 2026, expressing optimism that the amount would also be matched by the Child Nutrition Fund.
“We are very grateful to the Bauchi State Government for promising N500 million for 2026, which we hope will also be matched. This will significantly improve the supply of life-saving nutrition commodities for children,” she added.
Receiving the items on behalf of the state government, Bala Mohammed assured that the supplements would be effectively utilised to address severe acute malnutrition among children.
Represented by his deputy, Auwal Jatau, the governor said the RUTF would be used to treat children aged six to 59 months suffering from severe acute malnutrition, while SQLNS would help prevent malnutrition among children aged six to 23 months.
He described the donation as a demonstration of UNICEF’s commitment to strengthening its partnership with the Bauchi State Government in improving the health and wellbeing of children.
“The initiative aligns with the Bauchi State Government’s determination to strengthen primary healthcare services, particularly in the areas of reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health, nutrition, and immunisation,” he said.
Mohammed added that the state government had earlier contributed N300 million in 2025 to the Child Nutrition Fund as a counterpart contribution and pledged to increase its investment in child nutrition.
He reiterated the government’s commitment to implementing the Abuja Declaration, which recommended that at least 15 per cent of annual budgets be allocated to the health sector.
The governor further directed the state Primary Health Care Development Board through the Ministry of Health to establish a monitoring committee to ensure proper distribution and utilisation of the nutrition commodities to reach the targeted beneficiaries.