UNICEF applauds Bauchi ALGON over N100m contribution to Child Nutrition Fund

Segun  Babatunde Awofadeji, Bauchi

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has praised the Bauchi State chapter of the All Local Government Association of Nigeria (ALGON) for fulfilling its promise by releasing the sum of N100m as contribution fund for the Child Nutrition Fund (CNF).

However, the Fund (UNICEF) urged the state government to urgently release its pledged N200 million counterpart funding to the Child Nutrition Fund (CNF) to address the alarming rate of child malnutrition in the state.

The Chief of Field Office (CFO), Bauchi Field Office (BFO) of the UNICEF), Dr Nuzhat Rafique was speaking yesterday when she paid a thank you visit to the ALGON Chairperson, Mahmood Baba Ma’aji in his office.

While emphasising the urgency of the situation, she noted that the prevalence of malnutrition among children in Bauchi State is deeply concerning.

Nuzhat Rafique emphasised that

the full release of the state’s commitment will unlock a total of N600 million worth of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) for the treatment of malnourished children across the state.

She emphasised that,  “We really need to take care of the children by procuring RUTF and Small Quantity Lipid-based Nutrient Supplements (SQ-LNS) for both treatment and prevention of malnutrition” .

Rafique explained that the CNF operates as a matching grant, requiring equal contributions from both state and local governments to attract further funding from UNICEF and partners.

According to her, “I come here today to say thank you very much for your commitment and support for Child Nutrition Fund. As you know that this is a matching grant.”

“And the advocacy that we did during the discussion in Jos where we highlighted that malnutrition is very, very prevalent in Bauchi. And we really need to take care of the children by procuring RUTF and SQLNS, which are the supplies for securing malnutrition and preventing malnutrition also.”

“So, that is the main purpose of thanking you for the great support. And also sharing with you that before I left for Pakistan, three weeks back, I had a meeting with His Excellency, the Governor,”

“I really appreciated the support from the LGAs, and we told him that the LGAs have already pooled N100 million for CNF already, and we requested him to contribute from state side as well, and he also very kindly and graciously, he committed to provide N200 million from state side, so we can have N300 million in total, and N300 million would be contributed by CNF. “

“So, total Bauchi children, malnourished children can benefit from RUTF, which would bring N600 million RUTF to Bauchi… And that would be inshallah inshallah, a significant contribution towards curing the malnutrition in Bauchi, and I think your initiation, your leadership, and your contribution from the LGAs are highly appreciated.”

“And we are really acknowledging your support, and I hope, Inshallah, that this support will continue for the prevention of malnutrition in vouchers among children under 5. And also, I would like to request that with the same dedication and support, we would like to advocate for allocation of the LGA budget on a regular basis for the most deprived families and malnourished children.”

“As you know that in vouching some LGAs, there are areas which are highly, highly vulnerable. And there are zero-dose children who have never been vaccinated. And there are children who are severely malnourished and those children can be saved if they are treated on time.”

“So, all LGAs, because the budget is now coming to LGA level as well, so we need to educate, we need to provide technical support for budgeting to these LGA Chairpersons,” She s

Nuzhat Rafique stressed that, “And UNICEF stands by you, hand in hand, so you can do the hand-holding. Our social policy specialists can also guide them, provide them technical support, and how to allocate funds for the most vulnerable families. And in this journey, I am sure you will support UNICEF and UNICEF will support LGAs to reach every deprived and vulnerable child in terms of cure for malnutrition and their basic right towards health. Thank you so much.”

In his response, Bauchi State ALGON Chairperson and Executive Chairperson of Bauchi LGC, Mahmood Baba Ma’aji commemded UNICEF for providing technical support to the 20 LGAs in the State stating that the collaborative effort has gone well in promoting good governance at the grassroots level.

He stated that, “On behalf of myself, as the Local Government Chairman and the ALGON Chairman for the Bauchi State Local Government Chairmen, I have the honour to welcome you to Bauchi Local Government once again. And we also appreciate you for your tireless support in terms of curing the malnutrition and other ailments in our respective local governments.”

Mahmood Babamaji added that,

“But first and foremost, the apprehension will have to go straight to His Excellency, our Mentor, the Executive Governor of Bauchi State, Sen Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed.”

According to him, “The last time we held a meeting in Jos with regards to, issues of malnutrition and the indices, and all the indicators have shown they have taken effect in our respective local government at the time. And we got worried and we got so concerned with regards to, the indices.” END