The United Nations Children’s Fund, Unicef, has identified malnutrition as a major challenge facing children in Nigeria’s North-East.
Head of Unicef’s Bauchi Field Office, Nazhat Rafique, says the organisation is seeking stronger partnerships with local government councils to improve funding and ensure that more resources reach children at the grassroots.
With childhood stunting reportedly affecting about 50% of children in the North-East, while exclusive breastfeeding rates remain below 30%, Unicef says urgent intervention is needed to improve child nutrition.
The organisation is engaging local government executives from Bauchi and Gombe states to explore ways of increasing funding, strengthening accountability and prioritising children’s nutritional needs.
Local government executives from the two states have also acknowledged the need for stronger collaboration with Unicef, including improved counterpart funding and monitoring mechanisms to ensure that interventions deliver measurable benefits to children.
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Discussions also focused on expanding access to essential health services, with local government councils identified as key partners in reaching children and families at the grassroots.
Unicef says stronger local investment and accountability will be critical to addressing malnutrition and improving child health outcomes across the region.
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(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
