From Tongnaan Bawa Jos
Plateau State Governor. Caleb Mutfwang of the State in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has distributed 5,392 cartons of Small Quantity Lipid-Based Nutrient Supplements (SQ-LNS) to tackle malnutrition among vulnerable children.
The SQ-LNS which was handed over to the local governments in the state is targeted at children aged 6-23 months and will support dietary supplementation for 80,000 children across the state for 5 months to boost child nutrition.
Represented by his deputy, Josephine Piyo, on Monday at the Government House Little Rayfield Jos the State capital, the governor acknowledged the laudable initiative of UNICEF in the Child Nutrition Match Fund mechanism that gave the state the opportunity to avert irreversible damage to the cognitive, intellectual, and physical development of children.
“Plateau State is pleased to be part of this child-lens investment in preventing malnutrition in children, we understand that the key to good health and mental development is appropriate complementary feeding, rich in the correct micronutrients following exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of life.
“Having recognized the importance of good and adequate nutrition in the first 1000 days of life, we reiterate our commitment to foster significant long-term impacts on children through the implementation of cost-effective nutrition interventions aimed at saving lives and averting childhood suffering.
“Today, we witness yet another groundbreaking moment of the Time Is Now administration that matches words with actions by improving the well-being of the people and building on its successes in the nutrition subsector,” he said.
Earlier, the Country Representative of UNICEF, Wafaa Saeed, who led the handing commended the Plateau State Government for leveraging the Child Nutrition Fund (CNF) mechanism.
She disclosed that Governor Caleb Mutfwang’s administration is among the first states to take advantage of the matching grant and invested $200,000 for the purchase of the SQ-LNS.
She added that the support for the children and vulnerable groups with the supplements will play a crucial role in preventing children from falling into severe malnutrition.
Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Adams Lekshak, said that the second phase of the distribution would soon be doled out while commending the state government for the effort to defeat malnutrition as it paves the way for economic development and national unity.
Our correspondent reports that the delivery of SQLNS through the Child Nutrition Fund represents a vital intervention to prevent malnutrition among children, particularly those under the age of five.
The highlights of the event was strategic partnerships, and targeted investments that would make a real difference in improving child health outcomes.
Present at the handing over were traditional rulers, Chairmen of local government areas, nutritionists, health workers, mothers and their children.
The ceremony however aimed at presenting a unique opportunity to spotlight impactful nutrition programmes, raise public awareness about child malnutrition, and advocate for increased and sustained funding toward child health and nutrition initiatives.