The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) says EU-funded nutrition interventions have assisted more than 40,000 malnourished children in Yobe State, providing life-saving treatment during critical lean seasons.

Joseph Senesie, UNICEF malnutrition manager, disclosed this during a media field visit and virtual dialogue in Damaturu on Monday, noting that the May-to-September lean season often exacerbates acute malnutrition among children.

Mr Senesie expressed optimism that 2026 would not record the high malnutrition levels seen in previous years, attributing successes to EU humanitarian support, particularly from the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations.

He explained that funding enabled the procurement of ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF), ensuring rapid recovery for children undergoing treatment and helping them return to healthy lives quickly.

“Once children begin treatment with RUTF, recovery is often rapid, helping them return to healthy lives,” Mr Senesie said, adding that collaboration with government and partners had strengthened nutrition responses.

Babagana Machina, executive secretary of the Yobe State Primary Health Care Board, described malnutrition as a major public health concern worsened by food shortages, disease outbreaks, and conflict-driven displacement.

Mr Machina said EU support had strengthened life-saving nutrition services, ensuring steady supplies of RUTF and therapeutic milk, with 306 health facilities now providing outpatient therapeutic programme (OTP) services statewide.

He added that community-based screenings and improved data systems had enhanced early detection and rapid response to acute malnutrition across vulnerable populations.

Hadiza Adamu, state nutrition officer, welcomed participants to the dialogue and commended UNICEF and the EU for consistent support to nutrition programmes in Yobe State.

Ms Adamu noted that malnutrition prevalence fell to about eight per cent in 2022 before rising to 10.9 per cent in 2023, placing Yobe in the IPC Phase Three classification.

She said the state aimed to reach Phase Two classification by the end of 2026 through sustained interventions, government commitment, and partner support.

Ms Adamu explained that 306 OTP sites, 120 supplementary feeding centres, and stabilisation facilities were operational statewide, improving access to treatment and recovery outcomes for malnourished children.

She cautioned, however, that ongoing conflict, flooding, and food insecurity continued to hinder progress, stressing that continuous scaling up of interventions was essential to effectively tackle malnutrition.

(NAN)