Worried by the high level of malnourished children in the state, the government of Gombe State through the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation has commenced training of women from various local governments of the state on how to produce complementary foods for children.
Speaking during the opening ceremony of the training yesterday, the commissioner of Science, Technology and Innovation Aisha Maigari explained that 100 women and youths would be trained on making the foods.
She said the state governor Inuwa Yahaya last year approved the production of 120, 000 sachets of 100 grams of the children’s complementary foods which were distributed across the state.
Aisha stated that the gesture was meant to reduce the burden of malnutrition among children in the state saying the foods reached over 2, 000 children so far.
The commissioner added that to consolidate on the gains of the program, the ministry now partners with donor agencies in order to produce more and reach out to many more children with moderate malnutrition.
According to her, the complementary foods produced by the state was registered with the National Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and was found to be suitable in tackling acute malnutrition.
She uncovered that since the introduction of the programme, about 300 people were taught on how to produce such foods asking critical stakeholders to carry the message of using the locally made foods to the people of the state to improve nutrition of children in the state.
In her speech, the state first lady Asma’u Inuwa Yahaya represented by the commissioner of women affairs Na’omi Awak said the production of the foods in the state is paramount pointing out that for a child to grow to a healthy adult, he must have the right nutrition right from birth.
Our correspondent reports that Gombe State is one of the states worst hit by malnutrition and one among those with the highest number of malnourished children in the country.
