The distribution of a locally produced complementary food supplement has been launched by the Gombe State Government to tackle child malnutrition in the state.
The Deputy Governor, Dr. Manassah Daniel Jatau, while launching the programme, described the initiative as a sustainable and homegrown response to a critical health crisis.
He said that the state's stunting rate stands at 50.6 per cent and over 94,000 children are severely malnourished.
He noted, "The development and certification of this supplement by NAFDAC mark a significant step in our Human Capital Development agenda."
Jatau further explained that the project is a collaborative effort involving the Ministries of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, and the Accelerating Nutrition Results in Nigeria (ANRIN) programme.
More than 1,000 students, according to him, from selected schools were trained to prepare nutritious meals.
Women, he added, were empowered to produce and distribute the supplement, creating both health and economic benefits.
Dr Aishatu Umar Maigari, the commissioner for education, explained that over 200 women and 300 secondary school students have already been trained in the supplement's production, positioning them as key players in ending child malnutrition in Gombe State.
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