By Murtala Muhammad
Twenty local government areas in Bauchi State have been urged to take the lead in combating the alarming rate of malnutrition among children.
According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), three out of every ten children in the state suffer from Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM), while six in ten are mildly malnourished.
These troubling statistics shocked local government chairpersons and their deputies during a two-day advocacy and sensitisation meeting held in Jos, Plateau State.
Our correspondent reports that the meeting was organised by UNICEF’s Bauchi Field Office, which supports Adamawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Plateau, and Taraba states in addressing child malnutrition.
Speaking at the event, Chief of UNICEF Bauchi Field Office, Dr Nuzhat Rafique, emphasised the critical role of local governments in tackling malnutrition, given their proximity to the people.
Dr Rafique acknowledged a financial autonomy granted to local governments in Nigeria and expressed optimism that councils would be able to allocate resources towards improving children’s nutrition in their communities.
In a remark, Chairman of Bauchi Local Government, Mahmood Babamaji, described the malnutrition figures as alarming, linking the crisis to the country’s economic challenges.
Mahmood Babamaji, who also serves as the State Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) urged the Federal Government to prioritise policies that enhance citizens’ welfare.
He noted that such measures would alleviate hardship, enabling parents to adequately provide nutritious food for their families.
Resource persons at the meeting presented papers highlighting the state’s malnutrition and child poverty levels, while advocating responsible budgetary allocations for nutrition-focused interventions.
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