By Ahmed Liman Kingimi, Maiduguri
UNICEF and the government of Yobe State are intensifying efforts to address the escalating malnutrition crisis, offering renewed hope to vulnerable children across the region.
Malnutrition remains a significant health threat in Yobe, exacerbated by persistent food shortages, recurrent outbreaks of diseases such as measles, and displacements caused by ongoing conflict. In response, the European Union’s Humanitarian Aid has stepped up to reinforce vital nutrition services throughout the state.
Zara Goni, a 52-year-old grandmother from Tashan Kurma community, arrived at Mairi Primary Healthcare Centre with her ten-month-old twins, who are currently receiving therapeutic feeding at the nutrition stabilization center. She shared that her daughter, Maryam Hassan, died shortly after childbirth. The twins had been severely underweight due to a lack of breastfeeding, but since arriving at the center, they have begun gaining weight. Zara expressed deep gratitude for the support during this difficult period.
Maryam Muhammad, a nine-month-old girl, has shown remarkable recovery from severe acute malnutrition following treatment at a UNICEF-supported primary healthcare facility in Mairi, Damaturu, Yobe State.
Her mother, Amina Shettima, recounted their experience: “We brought her to the health centre six weeks ago when she was critically ill, weighing only 6.3 kg, with a Mid-Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) of just 8.5 cm. She was suffering from extreme hunger, and her stomach had shrunk.”
She continued, “When we arrived, she couldn’t sit up properly and was very weak. Since starting treatment with Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) provided through UNICEF support, her condition has improved significantly.”
Amina added, “Today, she is more energetic, able to sit up, and even move around. The care she received has stabilized her health and helped her regain strength over the past six weeks.”
Expressing her gratitude, she said, “I am immensely thankful to UNICEF and the Yobe State Government. Thanks to the treatment and support, my daughter is now on the path to a healthy, normal life.”
Dr. Babagana Kundi Machina, Executive Secretary of the Yobe State Primary Health Care Development Agency, emphasized the importance of sustained intervention.
“Malnutrition remains a critical challenge in Yobe. It requires coordinated, strategic responses to save lives and improve health outcomes,” he stated.
The EU’s support, delivered through a targeted ECHO grant, aims to strengthen sector coordination and ensure continuous access to essential therapeutic foods. The initiative focuses on establishing a reliable supply chain for RUTF and therapeutic milk, both crucial in treating acute malnutrition.
Key components of the intervention include pre-positioning RUTF to ensure timely access, community-based malnutrition screening using MUAC, and outpatient treatment of Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) through Outpatient Therapeutic Programmes (OTPs) across 306 health facilities in the region.
Additionally, the program seeks to enhance data collection and reporting systems aligned with national strategies, thereby improving the efficiency and effectiveness of malnutrition interventions. Strengthening coordination among health actors and maintaining an uninterrupted supply chain are also central to these efforts.
This comprehensive approach has already begun to show positive results, with vital supplies reaching vulnerable populations without interruption. Early detection of malnutrition cases has improved, and treatment outcomes are on the rise, offering hope to thousands of children and families affected by malnutrition.
Mr. Joseph Senesi, UNICEF Nutrition Manager, highlighted the ongoing challenges of the lean season, which often leads to increased childhood malnutrition. Despite concerns, he remains optimistic that this year’s impact will be less severe, underscoring the importance of continued support and collaboration.
He also expressed gratitude to the European Union, particularly ECHO, whose funding has enabled life-saving interventions, including RUTF for over 40,000 children, strengthening efforts to protect vulnerable children and improve health outcomes.
Hajiya Hadiza Adamu, the Yobe State Nutrition Officer, expressed cautious optimism regarding progress amid ongoing challenges. She stated, “While we have seen some improvements, we remain in a serious phase. Our collective efforts must intensify to turn the tide. With continued support and dedication, I believe we can achieve a healthier future for our children.”
She further noted that the state’s prevalence of acute malnutrition stands at approximately 10.9 percent, and although currently classified as IPC Phase 3 (serious), there is hope to transition to Phase 2 by the end of the year. The expansion of Outpatient Therapeutic Programmes, stabilization centers, and Targeted Supplementary Feeding Programmes (TSFP) has contributed to reducing the Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) rate from 14 percent to 10.8 percent. She highlighted that despite the challenges posed by conflict and food insecurity, these efforts are making a tangible difference.
She also announced that the Yobe State government has joined the Child Nutrition Fund, a matching grant initiative supported by UNICEF, which facilitates the procurement and distribution of RUTF to sustain treatment programs.
The combined commitment of government and partners is steadily improving nutrition outcomes in the state.
As Yobe continues to face complex challenges related to food insecurity and conflict, UNICEF and the EU’s humanitarian aid efforts exemplify a dedicated partnership aimed at saving lives and building resilient health systems in Nigeria’s northeastern region.
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