Gombe: United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has successfully reached 106,248 children with its Small-Quantity Lipid-Based Nutrient Supplements (SQ-LNS) in Gombe State as part of its nutrition support initiative between 2023 and 2025. This was announced by Ms. Philomena Irene, Nutrition Specialist at the UNICEF Field Office in Bauchi, during a virtual meeting with journalists held on Wednesday in Gombe.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the meeting followed field visits by journalists to Kwami and Kaltungo Local Government Areas, where they interacted with beneficiaries of the Progressing Action on Resilient Systems for Nutrition through Innovation and Partnership (PARSNIP) project. Implemented by the Gombe state government and UNICEF, with support from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, the project aims to prevent malnutrition among children under five.
Ms. Irene highlighted that under the PARSNIP project, 20,347 caregivers have been counselled and trained on the effective use of Mid-Upper Arm Circumference tapes and proper Maternal, Infant and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN) practices. This training is intended to enhance caregivers’ abilities to monitor children’s growth, detect malnutrition early, and adopt optimal feeding practices to improve child nutrition and health outcomes.
The PARSNIP project’s objectives include improving Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) practices for better prevention, enhancing early detection and referral of malnutrition through routine screening, and strengthening treatment services at both community and facility levels. The project also aims to build government-led nutrition systems, promote multisectoral collaboration across health, WASH, and agriculture, and support innovative approaches ensuring nutrition services continue effectively even during shocks.
Mr. Muhammad Bawa, the Nutrition Officer in Gombe state, described the project as a significant success, improving children’s health with essential nutrients. He noted that the partnership between the state government and UNICEF has significantly contributed to addressing malnutrition in many communities, reducing mortality rates. Although currently implemented in Dukku, Kwami, and Kaltungo LGAs, plans are underway to expand the project to more LGAs as part of the state’s sustainability strategy.
Bawa also commended the Gombe State Government for recently paying N500 million as counterpart funding to strengthen the fight against malnutrition. Beneficiaries of the PARSNIP project in the Malam-Sidi community in Kwami LGA praised the intervention, noting its lifesaving impact on children.
Hussaina Bappayo, a mother of two, described the supplement as a ‘wonder supplement’ essential for every child to support healthy growth. Her sentiments were echoed by Mrs. Asmau Tella, another mother in the community, who reported significant improvements in her daughter’s health after introducing SQ-LNS into her meals. Tella observed that many women began seeking the supplement at health centres after witnessing its benefits, saving money previously spent on medications for recurrent childhood illnesses.
Beneficiaries have appealed to the state government, UNICEF, and other partners to replenish the supply at health centres, as demand has surged, leading to stock shortages.
NAN reports that SQ-LNS are nutrient-dense food pastes designed to prevent malnutrition in young children (6-23 months) by providing 24 essential micronutrients and macronutrients. These supplements can be consumed directly from a sachet or mixed with food, supplying vitamins, minerals, energy, protein, and essential fatty acids.