By Talatu Maiwada

The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has supplied over 4,290 cartons of Small Quantity Lipid-Based Nutrient Supplements (SQLNS) to the Adamawa Government to combat malnutrition and related diseases.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the supplements were funded by donors, including the UK Government, the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Through UNICEF’s Children Nutrition Fund, a 1:1 match-funding modelenables governments to double their investment in nutrition, improving malnutrition prevention, detection, and treatment.

Dr Nuzhat Rafique, Chief of Field Office, UNICEF Bauchi, presented the supplements at a handover ceremony on Thursday in Yola.

Rafique stated that the 4,290 cartons of SQLNS contained approximately 2.57 million doses, expected to benefit at least 85,000 children in the state.

NAN reports that SQLNS is a specially formulated food supplementdesigned to prevent undernutrition and support child survival, growth, and development.

It helps address stunting, wasting, and anaemia by providing essential proteins, energy, and 23 vital vitamins and minerals.

Commending the Adamawa Government for its commitment to the Child Nutrition Fund (CNF) mechanism, Rafique acknowledged the support of various donors and UNICEF’s role in managing the fund.

“You are among the first states to take advantage of this matching grant opportunity to support mothers, children, and vulnerable groups.

“Malnutrition remains a major challenge in Adamawa, and these supplements will play a crucial role in ensuring that children are not malnourished,” she said.

Rafique expressed gratitude to the state government and donors, acknowledging their contributions in reaching the most vulnerable children in Adamawa and across Nigeria.

Mr Felix Tangwami, Adamawa Commissioner for Health and Human Resources, praised UNICEF and donor partners for their commitment to tackling malnutrition.

He attributed the rise in malnutrition to insurgency and insecurity, which have greatly disrupted farming activities and reduced access to nutritious food in the state.

“Our farmers no longer have the same level of access to farmlands, which has led to a decline in the availability of quality nutritional foods.

“Despite limited resources and competing demands, the governor continues to prioritise the health sector, because a healthy society is key to a healthy future,” Tangwami said.

He assured that the supplements would be properly distributed and utilisedto reach the intended beneficiaries.

Dr Bashir Sulaiman, Executive Chairman, Adamawa Primary Healthcare Development Agency, commended the state government’s commitment and swift action in securing funding.

He revealed that the governor released ₦100 million for the matching grant for SQLNS procurement and further committed ₦300 million for the current year to sustain the fight against malnutrition.

Sulaiman called for continued collaboration with UNICEF to improve nutrition and overall health outcomes for women and children in the state. (NAN) www.nannews.ng

Edited by Benson Ezugwu/Christiana Fadare