The Jigawa State Government said it has treated 57, 657 cases of acute child malnutrition in the state in 2017.
Nutrition Officer of the State Mr Magaji Ahmed, made this revelation at the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Bauchi Field Office end of year review on Tuesday in Jos.
Ahmed also said the 886, 000 children were dewormed and 71,235 women were sensitised to issues of child mortality in 2017.
UNICEF’s Bauchi Field Office covers six states of Bauchi, Plateau, Adamawa, Taraba, Jigawa and Gombe.
“With the support of UNICEF Jigawa state achieved a milestone in its efforts to stem down the incidence of acute malnutrition in children in the state".
“In the year under review, we admit and treated 57, 657 cases of acute child malnutrition in the various Community Based Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) centres across the state".
“These figures represent 86 per cent of our total projection for the year".
“We also recorded 0.3 per cent death rate in this regard and 15 per cent defaulting rate", he said.
Earlier, the Chief of UNICEF Bauchi Field Office, Dr Abdulai Kaikai, commended the state government for supporting the fight against child malnutrition in the state.
He mentioned that so much is needed to be done in order to eradicate malnutrition in children and that government and other relevant stakeholders should prepare to focus on achieving the endeavor.
The 2017 end year review meeting brings to climax UNICEF 4-year strategic plan which began in 2014.
NAN
