According to the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), 36% of pregnant women in Adamawa State suffer from anaemia, a condition that poses significant health risks to both mothers and their babies.
UNICEF’s Chief of Field Office in Bauchi, Nuzhat Rafique, revealed this in Yola, stating, “Adamawa State’s malnutrition crisis is further compounded by concerning child nutrition figures: 48.6% of children are stunted, 7% are wasted, and over 80% experience child food poverty.”
To address this issue, UNICEF has supplied the Adamawa State government with 4,290 cartons of Small Quantity Lipid-Based Nutrient Supplements (SQ-LNS). These supplements are expected to benefit around 85,000 children, helping to prevent malnutrition and promote child survival, growth, and development.
SQ-LNS, which is procured through the Child Nutrition Fund (CNF), contains 23 essential vitamins and minerals, along with protein and energy, to combat conditions such as stunting, wasting, and anaemia.
Rafique noted that Adamawa was among the pioneering states in Nigeria to adopt the CNF, contributing N100 million in 2023, a sum that UNICEF matched.
Felix Tangwami, Adamawa State’s Commissioner for Health and Human Resources, attributed the high malnutrition rates to insecurity, which has hindered farmers from accessing their lands and reduced food production.
He praised Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri for prioritizing healthcare and social services, highlighting that the state increased its investment in food supplements from N100 million last year to N300 million in 2024.
Dr. Bashir Sulaiman, Executive Chairman of the Adamawa State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, expressed confidence that the N300 million matching fund would significantly improve child health across the state.
With UNICEF’s contribution, the total funding now amounts to N600 million, ensuring better nutrition and well-being for thousands of children.