Nearly 400,000 children in Adamawa are in dire need of nutrition support, a figure that underscores the severity of chronic malnutrition threatening lives in the state, UNICEF has revealed.
The disclosure came on Monday during a two day meeting in Yola, where policymakers, civil society, and international agencies gathered to discuss legislative solutions to the crisis. The event was organised by the Adamawa planning commission in collaboration with UNICEF.
Nuzhat Rafique, head of UNICEF’s field office in Bauchi, described the situation as critical, noting that around half of Adamawa’s children suffer from long term malnutrition. She encouraged exclusive breastfeeding to help curb the crisis. Ms Rafique said UNICEF has already provided nutrition supplements in the state and called for broader cooperation to address what she described as a pressing emergency.
Amid mounting concern, Bathiya Wesley, speaker of the Adamawa House of Assembly, pledged that lawmakers would push through legislation to strengthen nutrition programmes and ensure funding support. “We in the assembly, we will make sure that these policies are taken into consideration so that our children will have the benefit of these nutrition programmes. Therefore, we will ensure that these policies are backed up by legislation, and we are ready to do so for the betterment of Adamawa children,” Mr Wesley said.
The speaker, represented by Kate Mamuno, majority leader of the assembly, echoed calls for swift policy actions as the humanitarian situation worsens. Philomena Irene, a nutrition specialist at UNICEF’s Bauchi office, explained that the workshop aimed to chart strategies for boosting investment in nutrition by involving different sectors. She stressed the importance of cooperation between lawmakers, government agencies, and non governmental organisations.
Mary Padinga, head of the Adamawa planning commission, commended UNICEF’s assistance and said that the steps taken so far were deliberate moves to ensure clear policies with legal authority are established to tackle malnutrition. Ms Padinga expressed hope that lawmakers would not relent in pushing legal backing for nutrition focused interventions.
