The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) on Tuesday handed over 12,400 boxes of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) to the Jigawa State Government to help malnourished children in the state.
Safiya Akau, UNICEF's director of advocacy and media relations, said in a statement that the RUTF is expected to treat 14,000 children with wasting, a condition in which a child is too thin for his or her height.
He said this initiative, funded through the Child Nutrition Fund (CNF), reinforced the unwavering commitment of both the state government and UNICEF to improving child health in Jigawa.
“Over the past three years, Jigawa State has demonstrated remarkable leadership in nutrition, health and WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) through consistent release of funds, delivery of quality services and creation of a strong enabling environment.
“The Child Nutrition Fund (CNF), supported by key donors such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), the Commonwealth Foreign and Development Office (FCDO), among others, and administered by UNICEF, is a unique financing instrument,” said Ms. Akau.
She added that by matching government funding for essential nutritional products on a 1:1 basis, governments can double their investment, accelerating the scale-up of policies and programmes for the prevention, early detection and treatment of malnutrition.
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According to the official, Jigawa State was one of the first to adopt the Child Nutrition Fund, releasing N250 million in 2023. UNICEF matched this amount, enabling the procurement of 12,400 boxes of RUTF.
“This initiative will help treat severely wasted children and is the largest contribution to date by any Nigerian state under the NPC,” the official said.
“UNICEF is our key partner and we are glad to have seen our partnership strengthened further. My government is committed to working towards improving the nutritional status of women and children in Jigawa State as it is a matter of their fundamental rights,” Ms. Akau quoted Jigawa Governor Umar Namadi as saying in the statement.
Malnutrition is on the rise in Nigeria, driven by conflict, forced displacement and increasing food insecurity due to limited accessibility and affordability.
Nigeria currently has the highest number of malnourished children in Africa and the second highest in the world, with more than nine million children affected.
Jigawa faces a high burden of malnutrition: 64 percent of children are stunted, 9.6 percent are wasted and 81.9 percent are anemic, the statement said.
“More than 80 percent of children suffer from food poverty as they lack a varied diet that supports their growth and development. Despite these challenges, Jigawa State has taken the initiative to address the situation,” the official said.
UNICEF says Jigawa procured 4,672 boxes of RUTF (there are 150 sachets per RUTF box) last year, treating more than 5,000 children.
The United Nations organization also commended the state government for the local initiative to address the scourge of malnutrition among children in the state.
“Jigawa's innovative Masaki Nutrition Programme, with 300 fully government-funded community centres, focuses on preventing malnutrition. Trained community health workers have been deployed across the state, making Jigawa the first state in Nigeria to implement such a community nutrition programme,” the official said.
UNICEF Representative in Nigeria, Cristian Munduate, expressed her admiration for the efforts of Jigawa State: “The commitment of Jigawa State under the leadership of the Governor to address malnutrition has been exemplary.
“The Child Nutrition Fund has allowed us to double our impact, ensuring that more children receive the life-saving treatment they need. I sincerely hope that other state governments will be encouraged by the commitment shown by Jigawa State and invest in the child nutrition fund to address malnutrition in their respective states,” Munduate said in the statement.
Meanwhile, Ms. Munduate also announced that “UNICEF will provide free Multiple Maternal Supplements (MMS) for pregnant women in Jigawa State to improve pregnancy outcomes.”
“Our commitment to improving the nutrition and health of the people of Jigawa, especially women and children, remains strong,” said Ms. Munduate.
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About the Child Nutrition Fund
The Child Nutrition Fund (CNF) is a unique counterpart funding instrument where UNICEF and its partners match government funding for essential nutritional commodities on a 1:1 basis.
This enables states to increase the number of products available for the prevention and treatment of acute malnutrition. The CNF contributes to addressing malnutrition by improving access to vital nutritional products for children and women who need them most.
To date, five states have provided funding to the NFC, while five others have pledged to contribute. Twenty-six states and the FCT have yet to make formal commitments.