Katsina, UNICEF Commit Additional N1bn to Curb Malnutrition

• Warn health workers, caregivers against trading RUTF 

Francis Sardauna in Katsina

The Katsina State Government and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have committed an additional N1 billion into the state’s health sector to address the prevailing malnutrition crisis in the state. 

The state government, in collaboration with UNICEF, had earlier procured and distributed 7,000 cartons of ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) and other supplementary food worth N400 million to tackle severe acute malnutrition in the state.

The Executive Secretary of the State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. Shamsudeen Yahaya, disclosed this at a planning meeting on Standardized Monitoring and Assessment of Relief and Transition (SMART) survey held in Katsina, Tuesday. 

He said the state government and UNICEF will provide N500 million each this year, totaling N1 billion to address acute malnutrition across the state.

“Since the coming of this present administration, His Excellency, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda has prioritized healthcare delivery, especially primary healthcare and the welfare of children.

“This year, the state government will provide N500 million, while UNICEF will match it with the same amount, making it N1 billion to address acute malnutrition in the state,” he added.

He said the Governor Dikko Radda-led government had also established Outpatient Therapeutic Points (OTP) in Daura, Mai’Adua, Zango, Baure, Sandamu and other local governments to improve child nutrition.

He explained that the government has also developed a multi-sectoral plan of action, comprising immediate, intermediate and long term solutions to the malnutrition crisis in the state.

Since 2016, he said, 14 local government councils have been contributing N250,000 monthly, amounting to N3.5 million to attenuate malnutrition amongst children and breastfeeding mothers. 

He noted that some unpatriotic healthcare workers and mothers were trading the RUTF instead of using the high-energy giving food supplement to treat malnourished children. 

The executive secretary therefore warned the health workers and caregivers to desist from reselling the supplement, adding that anyone found wanting will face the wrath of the law.

He, however, stressed that the SMART survey served as a searchlight for the government to ascertain the magnitude of the malnutrition crisis and provide immediate and long-term solutions. 

He added that the state government was committed to treatment and prevention of malnutrition across the 34 local government areas, particularly those affected with insecurity.