The Gombe State Deputy Governor, Manassah Daniel Jatau has led an inspection of the distribution of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Foods (RUTF) aimed at tackling acute malnutrition among children under five in the state.
The initiative, a partnership between the Gombe State Government and UNICEF, is part of ongoing efforts to address child malnutrition through targeted interventions at Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition (IMAM) centres across the state.
This initiative is expected to make a significant impact on reducing malnutrition and improving child health outcomes across Gombe State, with the state government contributing over ₦175 million as a counterpart fund to support the programme.
During the inspection, Dr Jatau visited health facilities in the Kumbiya-Kumbiya quarters of the Gombe metropolis and Bambam in Kaltungo Local Government Area, where he interacted with health officials and mothers of malnourished children.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to improving child nutrition, emphasising the importance of reducing reliance on imported supplements by promoting locally developed food formulas, which offer a sustainable solution to malnutrition and stunting.
Dr. Jatau also commended the Commissioner of Education, Prof. Aisha Maigari, and the GO-CARES programme for their role in developing local nutrition interventions.
At the Bambam facility, the Deputy Governor directed the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning to engage the Local Government Chairman on providing shade for patients and caregivers facing extreme heat conditions.
Health officers at the visited facilities expressed gratitude for the intervention and assured that the RUTF distribution was being handled efficiently.
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