By Jamilu Abubakar
The Gombe State Government has inaugurated a task force to address the misuse, diversion and theft of nutrition commodities meant for malnourished children and other vulnerable groups in the state.
Inaugurating the committee, Deputy Governor Manassah Jatau charged members to strictly adhere to their terms of reference, stressing the need to safeguard public health and protect critical nutrition supplies.
He said the task force would identify, monitor and sanction individuals involved in diverting, hoarding or destroying nutrition commodities.
ManassahJatau noted that malnutrition remains a major challenge in Northern Nigeria, particularly in the North-East and North-West, adding that protecting nutrition interventions would ensure better returns on government and partner investments.
He said the committee would conduct monthly monitoring of health facilities and storage centres, investigate reported cases and recommend appropriate sanctions.
Speaking at the event, Chief of the UNICEF Bauchi Field Office, Dr Nuzhat Rafique, expressed concern over the diversion of life-saving nutrition supplies to markets, warning that such practices deprive children suffering from severe acute malnutrition of essential care.
Dr Nuzhat Rafique urged the task force to ensure transparency and accountability in handling all nutrition and medical commodities.
Chairman of the task force and Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Salisu Baba-Alkali, assured that the committee would deliver on its mandate, describing the initiative as a demonstration of the government’s political will to protect vulnerable populations.
The task force is expected to strengthen institutional efforts to ensure that life-saving nutrition commodities reach intended beneficiaries across health facilities and storage centres in the state.
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