Gombe State Government and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have launched a four-year Multi-Sectoral Strategic Plan of Action on Food and Nutrition (GMSPAFN), spanning 2023 to 2027 at the projection of N11 billion.
According to UNICEF, over 50 per cent of children and women in Gombe are anaemic, contributing to the high rate of malnutrition, stunting, and wasting.
Speaking at the launch of GMSPAFN in Gombe, yesterday, the Chief of the Bauchi Field Office, Tushar Rane, urged the state to be committed to achieving the eradication of malnutrition in the state.
Tushar said the food and nutrition policy would guide the state to address the hindrances to food and nutrition security from individual, household, community, and local government to state levels.
“The Costed Multi-sectoral Strategic Plan will promote diets, services and practices that support optimal nutrition, growth and development for all children, adolescents and women. The plan estimates that the interventions across the state would require a public investment of N11,169,423,741.16 with an average yearly public investment estimate of N2,035,892,400 over the next four years (2023-2027),” he said.
Tushar, who was represented by the Field’s Nutrition Specialist, Philomena Irene, said Gombe contributed N50 million as a counterpart contribution for the Child Nutrition Fund (CNF) to address all forms of malnutrition, particularly wasting, anaemia and stunting.
