The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and Borno State government have created a special fund to tackle malnutrition ravaging among children in the state.

The special fund tagged Child Nutrition Fund (CNF), was established following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) by the officials of the Borno government and UNICEF weekend in Maiduguri.

UNICEF Nigeria Representative, Cristian Munduate, said the Child Nutrition Fund (CNF) is a resource purse that will address malnutrition among children in the conflict affected areas.

According to the UN global agency, the $100, 000 (N150 million) CNF is to support sustainable programmes, policies, and nutrition supplies to address acute malnutrition or wasting among children.

Signing the MoU in Maiduguri at the weekend, the Chief of Borno Field Office, Tushar Rane, disclosed: “Child wasting is a tragedy,” warning that it is increasing across the world, including the Northeast region affected by the 15-year conflict.

Rane attributed malnutrition to climate change, conflict, and ignorance among the people. He lamented that the situation in the region is not improving. Consequently, the Chief Field Officer noted: “Between January and March 2024, the trend of acute malnutrition in children is about 40% higher than the same period last year.

He added that over 460,000 children were treated for acute malnutrition across Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe (BAY) states in 2023. According to him, children in the region are battling with escalating levels of malnutrition, and they need immediate and holistic response to address it.

“We look forward to an increased contribution from the State government to the purse next year,” he said, adding that Adamawa and Gombe states have signed the MoU for the CNF. Rane reiterated that UNICEF will continue to support vulnerable children across northeast Nigeria to end acute malnutrition.

In his brief remarks at the MoU ceremony, the Commissioner of Budget and Planning, Babagana Malumbe, said: “The CNF is a strategy that will ensure the health and wellbeing of children from acute malnutrition or wasting.

“Today’s event is also historic in the protection of children’s rights to health and education in the state.” He, therefore, noted that the implementation of CNF is in line with the state’s 25-year development plan to fight malnutrition among children, pregnant women, and lactating women.