By: Monday Danladi, Bauchi
The need for Bauchi State Government to take immediate action in order to save lives of innocent children suffering from Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) has become imperative considering the number of children that are already on reline.
Investigations revealed that almost all of the CMA centers in the State have closed down due to stock out of Ready-to-Use Thearapeutic Food (RUTF) needed for the treatment of SAM.
Checks revealed that the last time the State procured RUTF was in 2023 when USAID-IHP donated some consignment to the State during its closeout.
Further check revealed that Bauchi State is leading in the North East subregion in terms of malnourished children considering the various official figures available.
Though the State Governor, Sen Bala Mohammed Abdulkadir promised to release counterpart funding to procure the commodity when Ambassador Kate Henshaw visited the State earlier in 2024, the money has not been released.
The State is also expected to draw from the global Child Nutrition Fund (CNF) which doubles whatever amount contributed.
Experts who spoke on the situation expressed fear that unless something urgent was done to salvage the situation, children who are already on the redline will may begin to die.
The Experts are of the opinion that the government must not wait further in releasing counterpart funds in order to access the CNF facility which is available globally.
Reports revealed that Bauchi State is the only State yet to access the CNF facility in the Bauchi Field Office of United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) as Gombe, Adamawa, Taraba and Plateau States have all made their contributions and access the CNF.
Consequently, the State Committee on Food and Nutrition, Ministry of Budget, Economic Planning and Multilateral Coordination with support from United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Bauchi Field Office organized a 2-day advocacy and sensitization meeting with Members of the State House of Assembly on adequate budgetry Appropriation for nutrition interactions in Jos, Plateau State.
