unds are intended to sustain this progress and prevent service interruptions that could jeopardize thousands of children.
The state government’s strategy goes beyond emergency response. Uba-Misilli underscored that Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya’s administration views nutrition as a development priority, closely tied to reducing child mortality, improving cognitive development, and ensuring better educational outcomes in the long term. Addressing malnutrition, he noted, must be seen as both a healthcare necessity and an investment in the state’s future human capital.
RUTF, the primary product to be funded through this allocation, is a peanut-based therapeutic paste fortified with essential vitamins and minerals. It is designed for home-based treatment, allowing caregivers to administer daily doses without requiring children to remain in hospitals. Health workers carry out periodic monitoring to track recovery, making the approach highly effective in rural and remote areas where formal healthcare infrastructure may be sparse.
Global data shows that when used correctly, RUTF can achieve recovery rates of 70% to 90%, making it one of the most effective interventions for severe acute malnutrition. Its long shelf life and easy transport also make it ideal for humanitarian settings, especially in regions experiencing conflict, displacement, or limited access to medical facilities.
As aid agencies continue to raise alarms about increasing malnutrition across the northern states, Gombe officials reiterated that the newly approved funding aims to ensure that no child in the state is denied life-saving treatment due to financial limitations. The intervention, they said, aligns with broader commitments to improve primary healthcare delivery and strengthen community-based health systems.
With rising food insecurity threatening more households, the Gombe State Government’s decision to commit N500 million represents a proactive and strategic step toward reducing preventable child deaths and supporting vulnerable families during a period of heightened nutritional stress.
Emmanuel Bassey is a Financial Expert that has worked in the Banking and Finance Industry for over 15+ years across different banks in Nigeria
