By Chika Udenkwo
Every society dreams of a prosperous future. Governments build roads, schools, hospitals and industries with the hope of creating lasting development. Yet, the true foundation of that future is not found in concrete or steel—it is found in the health and potential of its children.
That is why the recent launch of a nutrition intervention in Gombe State by UNICEF, supported through a grant from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, deserves far greater attention than a routine development event. It is a reminder that one of the greatest investments any society can make is in ensuring that every child has the opportunity to survive, grow and thrive.
The intervention comes against the backdrop of a troubling reality.
According to UNICEF Chief of Field Office in Bauchi, Dr. Nusrat Rafiq, more than half of children in Gombe are affected by poor nutritional outcomes. While the precise indicator behind that figure requires technical interpretation, the message is unmistakable: child malnutrition remains one of the state’s most pressing public health and development challenges.
The concern is echoed by the Executive Secretary of the Gombe State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Abdulrahman Shuaibu, who notes that malnutrition contributes to nearly half of all deaths among children under the age of five.
Those figures are more than statistics.
Behind every percentage is a child who may never reach his or her full physical or intellectual potential. Behind every number is a family struggling with the consequences of poor nutrition, repeated illness and limited access to the knowledge and resources needed to raise healthy children.
For many people, malnutrition simply means a lack of food.
The reality is much broader.
Children become malnourished not only because they do not eat enough, but because they often do not receive the right nutrients at the right time. Poor maternal nutrition, inadequate antenatal care, low rates of exclusive breastfeeding, poor complementary feeding practices, unsafe drinking water, poor sanitation and recurrent diarrhoeal diseases all contribute to the cycle of malnutrition.
This is where Dr. Nusrat Rafiq’s message deserves careful attention.
She explained that the most critical period in a child’s life is the first 1,000 days—from conception until the child’s second birthday. It is during this period that the brain develops rapidly, the immune system is built and the foundation for lifelong health, learning and productivity is established.
If children receive proper nutrition and care during these first one thousand days, they are more likely to perform well in school, enjoy better health and become productive adults.
If they do not, the consequences can last a lifetime.
Perhaps the most sobering observation she made was that although severely malnourished children can often be treated and survive, some developmental losses may never be fully recovered. Malnutrition during early childhood can permanently affect cognitive development, learning ability and physical growth, reducing a child’s opportunities long into adulthood.
That reality changes the conversation entirely.
Malnutrition is not simply a health issue.
It is an education issue because healthy children learn better.
It is an economic issue because a healthier population is more productive.
It is a social issue because strong families are built on healthy mothers and healthy children.
And ultimately, it is a development issue because no society can achieve sustainable progress while a significant proportion of its children begin life at a disadvantage.
Recognising the magnitude of this challenge, the Gombe State Government has continued to strengthen collaboration with development partners as part of its broader health sector reforms.
Rather than confronting child malnutrition in isolation, the state has embraced partnerships with organisations including UNICEF, the World Health Organization, the World Bank, Nutrition International and other development agencies to improve maternal and child health, strengthen primary healthcare services and expand nutrition programmes across communities.
These partnerships complement government investments in revitalising primary healthcare centres, strengthening routine immunisation, expanding maternal healthcare, training frontline health workers and promoting community-based health education.
The latest UNICEF-supported intervention builds on these ongoing efforts.
As Dr. Abdulrahman Shuaibu explained, the programme seeks to intensify public awareness and community sensitisation on nutrition because the burden of malnutrition remains unacceptably high. Through stronger collaboration between government, development partners, civil society organisations and local communities, the objective is to tackle malnutrition before it takes hold.
For UNICEF, prevention remains the central goal.
Dr. Rafiq explained that the programme goes beyond treating severe acute malnutrition. It focuses on strengthening health systems, improving evidence-based planning, equipping health facilities, supporting community health workers and encouraging positive behavioural change among families.
She also stressed that mothers and fathers have a critical role to play. Exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of life, appropriate complementary feeding thereafter, improved hygiene, safe sanitation and early recognition of growth problems can prevent thousands of children from slipping into malnutrition.
That message deserves to resonate beyond conference halls.
It belongs in homes.
It belongs in schools.
It belongs in markets, places of worship and village squares.
It belongs on radio and television programmes and across social media platforms.
Recognising this, UNICEF appealed to journalists to become partners in promoting healthier behaviours. The media, Dr. Rafiq observed, possesses the unique ability to influence public attitudes, celebrate positive examples and encourage families to adopt practices that give children a healthier start in life.
This is a responsibility the media should embrace wholeheartedly.
Information saves lives.
When parents understand the importance of exclusive breastfeeding, proper complementary feeding, handwashing, clean water and regular growth monitoring, children stand a far better chance of surviving and thriving.
The fight against child malnutrition, therefore, is not the responsibility of government alone.
It requires coordinated action involving healthcare workers, development partners, traditional rulers, religious leaders, teachers, civil society organisations, community volunteers, fathers, mothers and the media.
Each has a role in protecting children during the first one thousand days—the period that will determine much of their future.
The first one thousand days pass quickly.
Their impact, however, lasts a lifetime.
If Gombe succeeds in reducing child malnutrition through stronger partnerships, improved healthcare, informed parenting and sustained community engagement, the rewards will extend far beyond better health statistics.
The state will nurture children who are healthier, stronger, better educated and more productive.
It will build a generation capable of driving economic growth, strengthening communities and sustaining development for decades to come.
Because in the end, the greatest legacy any government can leave is not measured only by the roads it constructs or the buildings it commissions.
It is measured by the children it empowers to live healthy lives, realise their full potential and build a brighter future for generations yet unborn.