UNICEF Donates 11,580 Cartons of Therapeutic Food to Gombe to Treat Severe Child Malnutrition

By: Tunji Okunlola

UNICEF has given the Gombe State Government 11,580 cartons of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) to treat children with severe acute malnutrition.

UNICEF Bauchi Field Office Chief, Dr Nuzhat Rafique, announced the donation at a handover ceremony on Monday. She commended the state government for providing N500m in counterpart funding for nutrition interventions in 2025, an amount she said was matched with the same sum through the Child Nutrition Fund to buy essential supplies for vulnerable children.

Rafique stressed the need for proper distribution and monitoring to prevent diversion and make sure the supplies reach the intended beneficiaries. She also urged parents and caregivers to ensure children complete their prescribed treatment under the guidance of health workers.

She called on community groups, including Mama2Mama and Fathers for Good Health, to raise awareness about how RUTF should be used, warning that it is meant only for treating severe acute malnutrition and should not be given as regular food.

Gombe State Commissioner for Science, Technology and Innovation, Habu Dahiru, said the government is expanding local production of nutrient-rich food in partnership with the North-East Development Commission to serve Gombe and neighbouring states. He said the effort would complement existing interventions, especially those targeting moderate malnutrition.

The state government also pledged to monitor the distribution of the donated supplies so that they reach children who need treatment.