Bauchi Government and UNICEF Each Donate 300 Million Naira to Buy Nutrition Goods for Children and Mothers

Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi

The Bauchi State Government and UNICEF have jointly committed N600 million to address rising child malnutrition and broaden maternal nutrition services throughout the state.

Dr. Rilwanu Muhammad, Executive Chairman of the Bauchi State Primary Healthcare Development Board, explained the initiative in a weekend interview with journalists. He said, “The malnutrition we are seeing is not just because of poverty; it is also due to inflation. Children are coming out malnourished.”

He added that the state has already distributed 4,842 cartons of Ready‑to‑Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) and 15,000 cartons of Small Quantity Lipid‑based Nutrient Supplements (SQLNS) to Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition (IMAM) centres.

Both the state government and UNICEF contributed N300 million each to procure nutrition commodities for children and mothers amid worsening food insecurity.

Dr. Muhammad noted that Bauchi is the first Nigerian state to use state funds to purchase SQLNS for malnutrition prevention, and that UNICEF has supplied about 15 million doses to high‑risk communities.

The board is also the first to roll out Multiple Micronutrient Supplements (MMS) for pregnant women, with 30,000 cartons received and another shipment already released at the port.

“Mothers like it and they are demanding more. It prevents anaemia and supports both mother and baby,” he said.

He explained that Governor Bala Mohammed has increased this year’s budgetary allocation for child and maternal nutrition to N500 million, while UNICEF plans to commit US$1 billion for the programme nationwide.

Dr. Muhammad said Bauchi is awaiting the release of approved funds to scale treatment for severe, moderate, and mild malnutrition.

To ensure sustainability, the board is advocating for MMS to be included in the essential drug list or the revolving drug fund. At $3 per bottle, MMS is more expensive than folic acid.

“If you want a healthy baby and a healthy mother, you must make sacrifices,” he said.

Health workers have been trained, and the board now uses electronic records and monitoring tools to track distribution and use at facilities.

Dr. Muhammad blamed the high cost of farming inputs and the lack of subsidies for worsening food insecurity, stating, “If the government wants to take care of the community, it must subsidise. If not, there will be problems.”