In its determination to fight cases of severe acute malnutrition among children in Gombe State, Bauchi Field Office of the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), in collaboration with the state government says it has commenced a five-year nutrition action project in the state tagged ‘PARSNIP’ (Progressing Action on Resilient Systems for Nutrition through Innovation and Partnership).
The project which was announced by the Gombe State nutrition officer, Mrs Ronas Amusa, said that urgent action must be taken on children with symptoms of malnutrition in the state.
“The last time the state had Ready to Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) for the treatment of malnourished children in the state was in October 2020 after it lasted for only three months. The state government had released N25m which procured 1,159 cartons”, she stated.
UNICEF Chief of Field Office on PARSNIP programme in Gombe, Dr. Tushar Rane, said during a one day inception meeting with stakeholders on the programme, that the cases of malnutrition in the region is great with one in every two children stunted.
He said Kwami is the pioneer local government to commence the programme and that UNICEF is coming with technical support while community participation will be key in the execution of the project which is expected to be sustained for a longer period.
Some of the key components of the project according to him are the mentoring of child-bearing women on exclusive breastfeeding.
Traditional rulers, as well as other critical stakeholders such as, Conditional Cash Transfer office, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, the media among others will be involved, he said.
He said a child experience massive development in his first two years which can be disrupted by malnutrition stressing that, 1000 days of the life of a child is so important to be ignored for whatever reason.
Giving an overview of the project, Philomena Irene, UNICEF’s Nutrition Specialist said, the programme is first, preventive, even as the use of RUTF will also come in.
According to her, the project will ensure that food produced in the locality is used in addressing malnutrition.
“Ward focal persons will work in the communities and all PHC facilities in all the wards”, Mrs. Irene said.
Chairman of Kwami Local Government Area, Ibrahim Buba, who was present at the meeting, expressed excitement over the execution of the project in his area saying, “we shall give UNICEF the support and maximum cooperation towards the success of the project”.
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President Muhammadu Buhari Friday at State House Abuja urged the MTN Group to make the available top-of-the-range service to its Nigerian subscribers… Malnutrition: UNICEF commences PARSNIP project in Gombe ; Malnutrition: UNICEF commences PARSNIP project in Gombe ; Malnutrition: UNICEF commences PARSNIP project in Gombe ; Malnutrition: UNICEF commences PARSNIP project in Gombe.
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