Abuja: The Gombe State Government has introduced the distribution of 'Garin Inuwa', a locally produced complementary food supplement aimed at nourishing thousands of undernourished children across the state. The Deputy Governor of Gombe State, Dr. Manassah Jatau, while flagging off the initiative in Gombe, expressed optimism that it would reduce the number of malnourished children in the state.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Dr. Jatau emphasized that 'Garin Inuwa' is a response and a resolve, developed from locally sourced ingredients and certified by NAFDAC. He highlighted the alarming statistics confronting the state, including a stunting rate of 50.6 percent, a wasting rate of 8.8 percent, and no fewer than 94,000 children classified as severely malnourished. The initiative is a collaborative effort between the Ministries of Education; Science, Technology and Innovation, and Accelerating Nutrition Results in Nigeria (ANRIN).
Dr. Jatau noted that over 1,000 students from selected schools were trained in preparing nutritious food, and trained women were empowered to produce and distribute the supplements, paving the way for entrepreneurial opportunities and broader community impact. He stressed the importance of good nutrition as a foundation, stating that the initiative aims to rebuild it, one child at a time.
In her remarks, Prof. Aishatu Maigari, Commissioner for Education, stated that the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation is responsible for producing the complementary foods, while the Ministry of Education trained women and students on how to prepare them. She mentioned that 200 women and 300 secondary school students have been trained in the production of the foods to prevent malnutrition, enabling them to contribute collectively to ending child malnutrition in the state.