Jos (Nigeria): Gov. Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau says no fewer than 80,000 children will benefit from the State government’s/UNICEF’s Small Quantity Lipid-based Supplements (SQLNS) to curb malnutrition among children in the State.
The governor disclosed this during the launch of the distribution of Lipid Supplements on Monday in Jos, in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
The SQLNS was procured through the Child Nutrition Fund, a global funding basket managed by UNICEF.
The initiative enables the government to double its investments aimed at tackling malnutrition in children.
Represented by his deputy, Mrs Josephine Piyo, Mutfwang said his administration was committed to ensuring optimal nutrition of its citizens.
“Malnutrition is a nationwide problem, aggravated by security challenges, which has exposed our vulnerabilities as a people.
“We pledge that our administration will continue to mobilise resources to tackle malnutrition and put Plateau in a better standing to ensure the optimal nutrition status of its citizens.
“This initiative aims to prevent malnutrition among children aged 6-23 months and will support dietary supplementation for 80,000 children across the state for five months,” she said.
Similarly, Mrs Wafaa Saeed, UNICEF’s Country Representative, commended the Plateau government for ensuring the provision of SQLNS for vulnerable children in the State.
“I just want to take a moment here to really acknowledge and appreciate the leadership of the government in Plateau.
“The health Commissioner, who spoke earlier, noted that this was a call to action, indeed, the Plateau State Government did not just do a one-time commitment, but made a multi-year commitment,” she said.
The UNICEF representative acknowledged the State’s leadership for committing $ 200,000 in 2024 to the project, stating it was a significant amount of resources.
Saeed stated that, as an agency focused on children, UNICEF had established a mechanism called the “Child Nutrition Fund,” which enabled state governments to double their commitment.
“So whatever the State makes, the Fund matches a commitment to. This has resulted in the procurement of more than 5,000 cartons of SQLNS that are going to be handed over today, and more than 15,000 children are going to benefit,” she said.
Mrs Kachollom Dung and Rifkatu Bawa, both beneficiaries of the intervention, commended the state government for the efforts committed to salvaging the well-being of the Plateau child.
