The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and Borno State Government have created a special fund to tackle malnutrition ravaging and retarding children’s growth in State.
The special fund tagged, “Child Nutrition Fund (CNF)”, was established following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) by the officials of the Borno State Government and UNICEF at the weekend in Maiduguri, the State Capital.
Cristian Munduate, the UNICEF Nigeria Representative, said the Child Nutrition Fund (CNF) is a resource purse that would address malnutrition among children in the conflict-affected areas.
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According to the UN global agency, the $100, 000 (N150 million) is to support sustainable programmes, policies, and nutrition supplies to address acute malnutrition among children.
Signing the MoU in Maiduguri,Tushar Rane, Chief of Borno Field Office, said, “Child wasting is a tragedy,” warning that it is increasing across the World as the Country’s Northeast region is also affected by the 15 years conflict.
Rane attributed malnutrition to climate change, conflict, and ignorance among the people.
He lamented that the situation in the region was not improving, consequently, the Chief Field Officer noted, “Between January and March 2024, the trend of acute malnutrition in children is about 40% higher than the same period last year.”
He added that over 460,000 children were treated for acute malnutrition across Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe (BAY) States in 2023.
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According to him, children in the region are battling with escalating levels of malnutrition, and they need immediate and holistic response to address it.
“We look forward to an increased contribution from the State Government to the purse next year”, he said. He added that Adamawa and Gombe States had signed the MoU for the Child Nutrition Fund.
Rane reiterated that UNICEF would continue to support vulnerable children across Northeast Nigeria to end acute malnutrition
Babagana Malumbe, the Commissioner of Budget and Planning, said: “The CNF is a strategy that will ensure the health and wellbeing of children from acute malnutrition or wasting.
“Today’s event is also historic in the protection of children’s rights to health and education in the State.”
He, therefore, noted that the implementation of CNF was in line with the State’s 25-year development plan to fight malnutrition among children, pregnant and lactating women.
