Dennis Erezi
Taraba State Commissioner of Health, Dr Bordiya Buma, has said that plans are in the pipeline for the Governor Agbu Kefas-led administration to pay a N100 million counterpart fund to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to combat severe malnutrition among children in the state.
The sum of $3.4 million under the Child Nutrition Fund (CNF) has been set aside by UNICEF to tackle severe malnutrition, especially among children aged 6-23 months across the country.
In an exclusive telephone interview with The Guardian on Wednesday in Jalingo, the commissioner reiterated the readiness of the incumbent administration in the state to key into the fund.
Stressing that plans are already in the pipeline for the government to pay the N100 million counterpart fund, he mentioned that the government will reach out to the child-friendly agency as soon as the plans are concluded.
The commissioner acknowledged that the process of keying into the fund is slow, but stated that the state has started the necessary steps to engage with the relevant agencies, saying, “We need to contact the relevant agency before making the move.”
Recent reports indicated that one in four children in Taraba does not receive the minimum dietary requirements essential for proper growth, hence the urgent need for the state government to act.
Health experts, particularly nutritionists who spoke with our state correspondent on the fund, highlighted the CNF as a crucial opportunity for the state government to address the severe nutrition challenges facing children, especially those aged 6-23 months.
They advocated a proactive investment of a N100 million matching grant to the UNICEF initiative, suggesting it would go a long way in preventing the resurgence of malnutrition rather than just treating its consequences.
Speaking on the fund, the Nutrition Specialist at UNICEF’s Bauchi Field Office, Philomena Irene, noted that if the state contributes N100 million, UNICEF would match the amount with another N100 million.
She stressed that the primary goal of the fund is to ensure the availability of foods rich in essential minerals and vitamins, which, according to her, are essential for children’s health.
The fund, if provided, would also be used in the procurement of necessary supplements for children aged 6-23 months and provide multiple micronutrient supplements to pregnant women, thereby enhancing pregnancy outcomes and reducing anaemia.
Announcing that the initiative will also facilitate the purchase of ready-to-eat therapeutic food for severely malnourished children, Irene stated that UNICEF plans to reach no fewer than 350 million children and women annually by 2030 through the initiative.
“Investing in the CNF is not just necessary but also a smart choice for the state government to get a significant return by fully fulfilling children’s potential,” she said.
Neighbouring Adamawa State and several other states within the Bauchi field office, as revealed by The Guardian’s findings, have already committed their N100 million matching grants to the fund, thereby setting a precedent for Taraba to follow.
