Bauchi State Secures Critical Child Nutrition Intervention Following Five Hundred Million Naira Commitment to Combat Regional Stunting Crisis

Bauchi State receives 20,000+ cartons of RUTF and SQLNS from UNICEF. Governor Mohammed pledges N500m to fight 61% child stunting rate in the region.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 16, 2026, 7:53 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Independent Newspaper Nigeria

Large Scale Mobilization of Therapeutic Food Supplies

In a major bid to reverse the declining health metrics among its youngest citizens, the Bauchi State Government has officially received a massive consignment of specialized nutrition supplies. The shipment includes 4,562 cartons of Ready to Use Therapeutic Foods (RUTF) alongside 15,419 cartons of Small Quantity Lipid Based Nutrient Supplements (SQLNS). This intervention, facilitated by the Child Nutrition Fund and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), is designed to provide immediate medical grade nutrition to children suffering from acute wasting and chronic malnutrition across the state's various local government areas.

Fiscal Commitments and Budgetary Alignment

Governor Bala Mohammed, represented by Deputy Governor Mohammed Auwal Jatau during the handover ceremony at Gidan Gona, emphasized that the state is backing its health initiatives with substantial financial resources. The administration contributed N300 million to the Child Nutrition Fund in 2025 and has announced plans to release an additional N500 million during the current calendar year. Furthermore, the state has aligned its fiscal policy with the Abuja Declaration by allocating 15% of its total budget to the health sector, ensuring a steady stream of revenue for maternal and child health programs.

Alarming Malnutrition Data Drives Policy Urgency

The urgency of these arrivals is underscored by sobering health statistics recently released by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare. According to Commissioner Dr. Sani Dambam, approximately 61.7% of children under the age of five in Bauchi State are currently stunted, while 5.2% suffer from wasting. The crisis also extends to the adult population, with nearly 69% of women of childbearing age suffering from anaemia. These figures have turned the provision of RUTF and SQLNS from a routine health service into a critical survival strategy for the state’s vulnerable populations.