Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau says no fewer than 80,000 children will benefit from the state government/UNICEF’s Small Quantity Lipid-based Supplements (SQLNS) to curb malnutrition among children.

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, Josephine Piyo, Mr Mutfwang said his administration was committed to ensuring optimal nutrition for 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,” the governor said.

Similarly, Wafaa Saeed, UNICEF’s country representative, commended the Plateau government for ensuring the provision of SQLNS for vulnerable children.

“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, saying it was a significant amount of resources.

Ms Saeed said that as an agency that focuses on children, UNICEF had set up a mechanism called “the Child Nutrition Fund,” which allowed state governments to double their commitment.

“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.

Kachollom Dung and Rifkatu Bawa, both beneficiaries of the intervention, commended the state government for the efforts to salvage the well-being of the Plateau child.

(NAN)