Malnutrition in Children: Bauchi and Gombe yet to release funds to fight the monster in 2018-report

A review of activities of government agencies in Bauchi and Gombe states being supported by the United Nations Children’s Fund UNICEF to fight malnutrition among under five children has shown that the two states have not released funds in 2018 as their counterpart contribution for the implementation of Community Management of Acute Malnutrition programme CMAM.

Based on the annual work plan of the primary health care development agencies of the two states, Bauchi state government approved 103 million Naira while Gombe granted approval for 248 million Naira respectively to maintain and scale up the CMAM sites in different communities.

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However, as at the 30/11/2018 the two states were yet to release a kobo out of the 351 million Naira they pledged as their contributions to the programme.

This revelation came to limelight at a two day end of year review meeting and 2019 planning meeting for Bauchi, Gombe and Plateau states organized by Bauchi field office of UNICEF in Gombe.

The money when released, was to be used for the procurement of Ready to Use Therapeutic Food RUTF recommended by the World Health Organization for the treatment of severely malnourished and stunted children in the two states in 39 sites in the two states.

According to the recent National Nutrition and Health Survey (2018) Bauchi and Gombe states have 42 and 41.9

of their under five children stunted due to malnutrition.

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Stunting is an indicator of linear growth retardation and cumulative growth deficits in children, reflecting the failure to grow in stature, which occurs as a result of inadequate nutrition over a longer.

In under five children, stunting is a stronger indicator of hunger and endemic poverty.

The nutrition focal persons of the two states at the meeting blamed lack of funds for the non-release of the money.

WikkiTimes observed that the current 39 CMAM sites being supported by UNICEF in the two states, 21 in 9 LGAs in Bauchi and 18 in 4 LGAs in Gombe were inadequate to cater for the number of children suffering from malnutrition, which has been described as the silent killer of under five children.