The Borno State Government has announced a partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to tackle the severe malnutrition crisis affecting the state.
The government has pledged $100,000 to this initiative, matching the same amount contributed by UNICEF.
This collaboration aims to address the critical issue of malnutrition among children under the age of five and pregnant and lactating women through the provision of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF).
The announcement was made by Tushar Rane, UNICEF’s Chief of Borno Field Office, during the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Borno government in Maiduguri, on Friday.
Rane highlighted the alarming statistics from the 2023 Northeast Nutrition and Food Security Surveillance (NFSS) round 13, which reported a Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) prevalence of 10.2% in Borno State.
In comparison, Yobe and Adamawa states recorded GAM rates of 8.0% and 4.0%, respectively.
Rane disclosed that over 1.5 million children are estimated to be suffering from wasting in Borno, with 511,807 of them experiencing severe wasting in 2024.
He emphasized the importance of the Child Nutrition Fund (CNF), stating, “The Borno State Government has committed $100,000 in counterpart funding to match UNICEF’s contribution of the same amount.”
The CNF initiative represents a critical step towards addressing the malnutrition crisis, Rane described child wasting as a tragedy that demands an immediate and comprehensive response.
He identified climate change, conflict, and lack of awareness as major contributing factors to the worsening situation.
“In northeast Nigeria, the situation is not improving. Between January and March 2024, the trend of acute malnutrition in children is around 40% higher than the same period last year. Over 460,000 children were treated for acute malnutrition across Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states in 2023, a 37% increase from the same period in 2022,” he stated.
The primary focus of the MoU is to combat malnutrition among children under five and pregnant and lactating women through the distribution of RUTF.
Rane praised the Borno State Government’s dedication to the CNF mechanism and expressed hope for increased contributions in the coming year.
“UNICEF commends the Borno State Government’s commitment to the CNF mechanism and looks forward to increased contributions next year,” he said.
This partnership is expected to significantly impact the lives of vulnerable children in Borno State, ensuring they receive the necessary nutrition to grow and thrive, especially after more than a decade of insurgency by Boko Haram.
While the initial efforts are concentrated on Borno State, there are plans to extend the agreement to other northeastern states, with Yobe State already being considered.
The collaboration between the Borno State Government and UNICEF marks a crucial step in the fight against malnutrition, offering hope and support to the region’s most vulnerable populations.
