Nasarawa State Allocates ₦500m to Combat Child Malnutrition

Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule has committed ₦500 million to address severe acute malnutrition among children in the state. This decision was announced during a courtesy visit from a delegation led by Dr. Gerida Birukila, the Chief of the UNICEF Kaduna Field Office.

Governor Sule reaffirmed his administration's dedication to improving child nutrition, highlighting the state's introduction of a six-month paid maternity leave policy aimed at encouraging exclusive breastfeeding among working mothers. Dr. Birukila commended Nasarawa State for its commitment to enhancing child healthcare, noting it as one of Nigeria's leading states in implementing child-focused health initiatives.

She expressed concern over the growing burden of child malnutrition, revealing that five health outreach programs identified severe wasting in selected local government areas. UNICEF estimates that Nasarawa requires urgent treatment for severe acute malnutrition.

Dr. Birukila also thanked the state government for providing a welcoming environment for initiatives like the polio transmission stop program and urged Governor Sule to approve the implementation of a work plan for an upcoming project evaluation scheduled for November.