Yobe, UNICEF dole out N1bn to fight child malnutrition

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Yobe State Government have committed about N1 billion to tackling child malnutrition in the State as Authorities intensify efforts to improve maternal and child health outcomes.

It was gathered that UNICEF data showed that more than 40,000 malnourished children in Yobe had received treatment through nutrition programmes supported by the agency and its partners.

Muhammad Lawan Gana, the Commissioner for Health and Human Services, disclosed this on Monday during the flag-off of the first round of the 2026 Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week (MNCHW), integrated with the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccination campaign, at Maisandari Primary Health Care Centre in Damaturu.

Gana was represented by Hajiya Hadiza Sabo, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, said Governor Mai Mala Buni recently approved N500 million as the state’s counterpart contribution to the Child Nutrition Fund (CNF), a commitment expected to be matched by UNICEF under the fund’s 50:50 financing arrangement.

He said the state and UNICEF had earlier contributed $100,000 each under the CNF matching grant initiative, leading to the procurement of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) for the treatment of children suffering from Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM).

According to him, the therapeutic food being handed over would support the treatment of thousands of malnourished children across the state.

“Just last week, Governor Mai Mala Buni approved the sum of N500 million as Yobe State Government counterpart contribution for the Child Nutrition Fund for 2026,” Abba said.

He added that the intervention would strengthen nutrition programmes, improve access to life-saving treatment, reduce child mortality and improve nutrition outcomes among children in the state.

In his welcome address, Babagana Kundi Machina, Executive Secretary of the Yobe State Primary Health Care Board, said 3,256 cartons of life-saving nutrition commodities procured through the Child Nutrition Fund and delivered through UNICEF were formally handed over to the State.

He said the commodities would strengthen service delivery at health facilities and ensure vulnerable mothers and children receive critical nutrition support.

Machina said the week-long campaign would be implemented across 356 health facilities and outreach points, with the state targeting at least 90 per cent coverage for all interventions.

Speaking on behalf of the UNICEF Chief of Field Office, Francis Butichi, the organisation’s Nutrition Specialist, Aminu Usman, said Yobe had recorded progress in reducing child malnutrition, with the Global Acute Malnutrition rate declining from 12.1 per cent in 2024 to 10.1 per cent in 2025.

He, however, called for sustained investment in community-based management of acute malnutrition, improved infant and young child feeding practices, routine immunisation, and access to water, sanitation and hygiene services.