106,000 Gombe Children Receive Lifesaving Nutrition Support — UNICEF

Over 106,000 children under the age of five in Gombe State have received critical nutrition support from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), marking a major step in the fight against malnutrition and child-related health challenges in the North-East region.

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The intervention, implemented between January and November 2025, is part of UNICEF’s broader Child Nutrition Improvement Programme, which targets vulnerable communities suffering from food insecurity, limited healthcare access, and recurring poverty cycles.

According to UNICEF, Gombe State has witnessed improved indicators in early childhood nutrition following the deployment of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF), health screenings, Vitamin A supplementation, and community-based healthcare services. The agency described the progress as “a significant milestone in safeguarding the health and future of children in the state.”

Scope of Support

UNICEF’s intervention reached children across all 11 local government areas of Gombe State, focusing on early detection and treatment of severe acute malnutrition (SAM). Health workers and community volunteers screened thousands of infants, referring those with advanced nutrition deficiencies to stabilization centres for treatment.

The support programme covered:

• Provision of RUTF for severely malnourished children
• Vitamin A supplementation for boosted immunity
• Deworming medication to prevent health complications
• Growth monitoring in primary health centres
• Training of community health workers to improve early detection
• Public awareness campaigns encouraging mothers to adopt safe infant feeding practices

UNICEF officials say the intervention was designed not only to treat malnutrition, but also to prevent its occurrence through long-term community education and strengthened local healthcare systems.

Gombe Government’s Role

The Gombe State Government, through the Ministry of Health and Human Services, partnered with UNICEF to expand coverage of the nutrition programme. Commissioner for Health, Dr. Habu Dahiru, said the collaboration demonstrates the state’s commitment to reducing malnutrition and child mortality.

He noted that the government had increased its budgetary allocation for nutrition-specific programmes, procured additional medical supplies, and strengthened Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) campaigns across markets, schools, and communities.

Dr. Dahiru also revealed that the state deployed over 2,000 trained community nutrition volunteers, who conducted household visits, educated mothers on exclusive breastfeeding, and ensured registered children received their monthly nutritional supplements.

Key Challenges Highlighted

Despite the progress, UNICEF stressed that Gombe still faces significant nutrition challenges driven by socio-economic and environmental factors. These include:

• High food prices caused by inflation
• Widespread poverty in rural communities
• Limited access to quality healthcare
• Poor feeding practices and low breastfeeding rates
• Seasonal food shortages
• Rising cases of childhood illnesses linked to poor sanitation

The agency warned that without sustained interventions, the number of children at risk of malnutrition could rise sharply, especially in rural LGAs such as Balanga, Shongom, Funakaye, and Nafada.

UNICEF Calls for Continued Investment

UNICEF called on federal and state authorities, private sector partners, and civil society organizations to increase investments in child nutrition and primary healthcare. The agency emphasized that addressing malnutrition requires consistent funding, community-driven solutions, and multi-sector collaboration involving agriculture, education, and social welfare.

“The support provided to these 106,000 children is a step forward, but more needs to be done,” the statement said. “Every child deserves a healthy start, and long-term investment in nutrition will positively impact education outcomes, productivity, and overall economic growth.”

Success Stories from the Field

Several mothers in Gombe shared testimonies about the impact of the programme. At the Kwadon Primary Health Centre in Yamaltu-Deba LGA, a mother of twin infants said UNICEF’s nutritional assistance saved her children from life-threatening weight loss when she could no longer produce enough breast milk.

Similarly, in Dukku LGA, health officials reported a significant reduction in extremely malnourished children admitted to stabilization centres, attributing the improvement to regular community screenings and early treatment.

The Bigger Picture

Nutrition experts say the gains recorded in Gombe reflect the importance of community-based interventions in improving child survival rates. They warn, however, that Nigeria still accounts for one of the highest burdens of malnutrition globally, with millions of children affected annually.

With UNICEF’s continuing support and the state government’s renewed commitment, Gombe is projected to further reduce malnutrition rates in the coming years. But stakeholders agree that sustained funding, stronger community participation, and improved food security remain essential to ensure long-term success.