Gombe unveils locally-made supplement to combat child malnutrition

The Gombe State Government has launched a locally produced complementary food supplement aimed at reducing child malnutrition across the state.

Speaking at the launch event over the weekend, Deputy Governor Dr. Manassah Daniel Jatau described the initiative as a sustainable and indigenous solution to a pressing health challenge.

He revealed troubling statistics, noting that the state’s child stunting rate is 50.6%, with over 94,000 children suffering from severe malnutrition.

Dr. Jatau highlighted the significance of the supplement’s development and its certification by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), calling it a major milestone in Gombe’s Human Capital Development efforts.

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The initiative is being implemented in partnership with the Ministries of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, and the Accelerating Nutrition Results in Nigeria (ANRIN) programme.

As part of the project, more than 1,000 students from selected schools were trained to prepare nutritious meals.

Additionally, women have been empowered to produce and distribute the supplement, creating both health and economic opportunities for local communities.

Commissioner for Education, Dr. Aishatu Umar Maigari, stated that over 200 women and 300 secondary school students have already received training in supplement production, making them vital contributors to the fight against child malnutrition in Gombe State.