By Willies Ugo, Gombe
UNICEF, Gombe – Dec. 13, 2025
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), in partnership with the Gombe State Government, has intensified key nutrition interventions aimed at addressing child malnutrition across the state.
The interventions include the promotion of the cultivation and consumption of Orange-Fleshed Sweet Potato (OFSP) at household level and the distribution of Small Quantity Lipid-based Nutrition Supplement (SQ-LNS) to children aged six to 23 months.
Both programmes are being implemented under the United Kingdom-funded Progressing Action on Resilient Systems for Nutrition Through Innovation and Partnership (PARSNIP) project, which seeks to improve dietary diversity, reduce micronutrient deficiencies and promote the consumption of locally available, nutrient-rich foods.
During monitoring visits to Kaltungo and Kwami Local Government Areas, it was observed that the initiatives are gaining wide acceptance due to their positive impact on child health and household livelihoods. The interventions are also ongoing in Dukku Local Government Area.
In Kaltungo, women involved in OFSP cultivation said the programme has improved their income and the health of their children. A beneficiary, Amina Isah of Lapamdintai community, said she earns substantial income from growing and selling OFSP, noting that both the tubers and leaves are processed into different food varieties with high market demand.
Other mothers also attested to improved health outcomes among their children following regular consumption of OFSP-based meals.
In Kwami Local Government Area, nursing mothers benefiting from the SQ-LNS intervention described the supplement as effective in improving the growth and vitality of their children.
One of the beneficiaries, Hauwa Sani, whose child is 15 months old, said children receive 30 sachets monthly, administered twice daily either directly or mixed with meals. She called for sustained availability of the supplement, citing its positive impact on her child’s health.
Speaking on the intervention, UNICEF Nutrition Specialist at the Bauchi Field Office, Philomena Irene, said the PARSNIP project aims to prevent and reduce child wasting by strengthening resilient nutrition systems.
She disclosed that between 2023 and 2025, 106,248 children were reached with SQ-LNS, while 20,347 caregivers were trained on the use of Mid-Upper Arm Circumference tapes and appropriate Maternal, Infant and Young Child Nutrition practices to improve early detection and prevention of malnutrition.
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