Gombe Governor Releases N500m Counterpart Fund To Strengthen Child Nutrition Response

Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya has approved the release of N500 million as a matching fund for the procurement of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

The intervention, implemented through the Child Nutrition Fund, is expected to significantly expand access to treatment for children suffering from Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) across the state.

Gombe has long been recognized as one of the few states that consistently meets its nutrition counterpart funding obligations.

This latest payment further strengthens the administration’s reputation for investing in programmes that protect the most vulnerable, particularly children under five, and has contributed to the state’s steady progress in child survival and overall health outcomes.

RUTF is a life-saving therapeutic food used globally in the community-based management of severe acute malnutrition. The nutrient-rich paste enables malnourished children to recover quickly and safely, including in remote communities where access to health facilities is limited.

The state’s sustained investment in RUTF and other nutrition interventions, is in line with Governor Inuwa Yahaya’ strategy to reduce child mortality, improve early childhood developmentand build a healthier future generation for Gombe.

Governor Inuwa Yahaya has consistently demonstrated commitment to funding impactful health and nutrition programmes that reach the most vulnerable. According to him, “no child in Gombe should suffer or lose their life to a condition that is preventable and treatable.”