UNICEF & Adamawa Govt Procure 4,290 Cartoons Of SQLNS Supplements to Combat Children Undernutrition

UNICEF & Adamawa Govt Procure 4,290 cartoons of SQLNS supplements to Combat Children Undernutrition

From Umar Dankano, Yola.

The United Nations Children’s Education Fund(UNICEF) and Adamawa state government in partnership with other donors have procured 4,290 cartoons of

SQLNS food supplement for prevention of children undernutrition.

Chief of field office,Unicef Bauchi,Nuzhat Rafique disclosed the development at the handing over of the procured supplement to the Adamawa state government in Yola Wednesday stressing that, SQLNS is a food supplement designed mainly to prevent undernutrition and improve child survival, growth and development.

Rafique explained that,SQLNS addresses stunting, wasting and anemia and contains 23 minerals and vitamins in addition to protein and energy applauding the Adamawa state government for demonstration of the exemplary leadership in the areas of nutrition and health through consistent funds release, service delivery and strong enabling environment.

Rafique stated that, the Child Nutrition Match Fund, supported by generous mix of donors including Government of the United Kingdom, the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and other partners, is managed by UNICEF.

“It is a unique match funding instrument in which UNICEF and its partners match government financing of essential nutrition commodities in a ratio of 1:1, allowing governments to double their investment in essential nutrition commodities to accelerate the scale-up of policies, programmes for the prevention, early detection, and treatment of malnutrition.

“Adamawa state was one of the early adopters of the Child Nutrition Fund (CNF) in Nigeria. The state released 100 million Naira in 2023. This was matched by the same amount by UNICEF and has often demonstrated exemplary leadership in the areas of nutrition and health through consistent funds release, service delivery and strong enabling environment.

“Malnutrition in children remains a concern in Nigeria with Adamawa State having a malnutrition rate of 48.6% making children to be stunted, 7% are wasted, and 36% of pregnant women are anemic. Over 80% of the children in the state suffer from child food poverty. The lack the access to a diverse diet to support growth and development.

“We urge the government to continue investing even more resources in 2025 which UNICEF will also match to procure more commodities through the CNF as we encourage government to conduct two rounds of MNCHWs in 2025 and procure deworming tablets in sufficient quantities to reach all children 12-59 months in the state.

“We plead for Approval of 6 months paid parental leave in the state to protect infant health and nutrition and support exclusive breastfeeding”. Rafique maintained.

Responding on behalf of the Adamawa state government, Commissioner for health and human development, Chief Felix Tangwami expressed gratitude to the Unicef and its partners for the humanitarian interventions recorded in various sectors in the state.

Tangwami described the assistance as “timely and welcome “decrying that children undernutrition or malnutrition gives birth to bad society if not tackled in time.

Tangwami who was flanked at the brief occasion by top government officials said that 85,000 children would access the SQLNS supplements across the 21 local government areas in the state.

While announcing that the Adamawa state government has released N300 Million matching grant with Unicef contributing N300Million counterpart putting it to a total of N600Million for the lifeline support to Adamawa children.

The Commissioner promised that the supplement will be distributed judiciously with a view to achieving the desired target.