In a decisive effort to strengthen child nutrition in Plateau State, the Executive Governor, in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has distributed 5,392 cartons of Small Quantity Lipid-Based Nutrient Supplements (SQ-LNS) to address malnutrition among vulnerable children.
The supplements, handed over to the state’s local governments, are specifically targeted at children aged 6–23 months and will provide dietary support for approximately 80,000 children over a five-month period.
Represented by his Deputy, Ngo Josephine Piyo, Governor Mutfwang lauded UNICEF’s Child Nutrition Match Fund initiative, which has enabled Plateau State to prevent irreversible damage to the cognitive, intellectual, and physical development of young children.
“Plateau State is proud to be part of this child-centered investment in preventing malnutrition. We recognize that proper complementary feeding, enriched with essential micronutrients following six months of exclusive breastfeeding, is critical for good health and mental development,” he stated.
“Understanding the importance of nutrition in the first 1,000 days of life, we remain committed to implementing cost-effective interventions that save lives, improve child well-being, and ensure long-term developmental gains. Today, the Time Is Now administration continues to match words with action, building on its successes in the nutrition subsector,” the governor added.
UNICEF Country Representative, Mrs. Wafaa Saeed Abdelatef, praised the Plateau State Government for leveraging the Child Nutrition Fund (CNF) mechanism. She noted that Governor Mutfwang’s administration is among the first in the country to utilize the matching grant, investing $200,000 for the purchase of the SQ-LNS.
“This support will play a critical role in preventing children from falling into severe malnutrition, particularly among vulnerable groups,” she said.
Hon. Adams Lekshak, Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, confirmed that the second phase of the distribution would soon commence, commending the government for its proactive approach in combating malnutrition an effort he said is key to fostering economic development and national unity.