Muhammadu Jamil Abubakar
The PARSNIP nutrition programme is improving the health and wellbeing of young children in Gombe State through supplementary feeding and improved nutrition practices.
The initiative supported by UNICEF, the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), and the Gombe State Government targets children aged 6 to 23 months who are at the highest risk of malnutrition.
The programme, formally known as Progressing Action on Resilient Systems for Nutrition Through Innovation and Partnership (PARSNIP), is currently being implemented in Kwami, Kaltungo, and Dukku Local Government Areas.
UNICEF Nutrition Specialist, Philomena Irene, said the intervention is helping to reduce child wasting by promoting proper infant and young child feeding practices, alongside improving treatment for malnutrition at both community and facility levels.
She added that the project fosters government participation and collaboration across the health, WASH, and agriculture sectors to ensure nutrition services remain available even during challenging periods.
Since 2023, the programme has provided Small Quantity Lipid-Based Nutrient Supplements (SQLNS) to 106,248 children to enhance their diet and nutritional intake.
In addition, 20,347 caregivers have been trained to screen children for malnutrition using MUAC tapes and to adopt recommended feeding methods for infants and young children.
Gombe State Nutrition Officer, Muhammad Bawa, noted that the state is one of the programme’s pilot locations, with the intervention already making notable impact among highly vulnerable children.
He explained that SQLNS and Orange-Fleshed Sweet Potatoes (OFSP) are used to support children in areas where therapeutic food is unavailable.
According to him, women in beneficiary communities receive sweet potato vines to plant, process, and incorporate into meals to boost vitamin A intake.
The initiative also provides economic benefits, as women can earn income through the sale of vines, leaves, and tubers. Bawa called for the programme to be expanded to additional LGAs across the state.
Beneficiaries in Kalargo Community, Kaltungo LGA including Amina Isa and Aisha Muhammad Aliyu said the initiative has significantly improved children’s health and supported families financially. They urged the government to scale up the programme to reach more households.
Stakeholders believe that with sustained support and investment, the PARSNIP programme will continue to reduce malnutrition, improve child survival, and strengthen nutrition systems across Gombe State.