By: Mukhtar Yahaya Shehu
United Nations Children’s Fund UNICEF Kano field office has assured its readiness to support Kano state government in eradication of malnutrition in the state.
The health manager UNICEF field office Kano Dr. Serekeberehem Seyoum Deres announced this at the flag off ceremony for Ready-to-use Therapeutic food RUTF distribution and other health intervention by kano state government in Takai local government area of the state.
He UNICEF defines child food poverty as children’s inability to access and consume a nutritious and diverse diet in early childhood; it is measured using the UNICEF and WHO dietary diversity score.
“We deliberately focus on early childhood (children under 5 years of age) because it is a period of uniquely high nutritional requirements and the most sensitive period for physical growth and brain development for all children, both in times of stability and crisis.” He said
Dr. Serekeberehem Seyoum Deres also said around 11 million children or one in every three children under five years of age in Nigeria are experiencing severe child food poverty, making them up to 50 per cent more likely to experience wasting, a life-threatening form of malnutrition.
• KANO STATE NUTRITION SITUATION
Adding that Kano state nutrition situation shows that 51.9% (one out of two) of state’s children are stunted or are not growing well while over 10% are wasted or too thin for their height.
According to Dr Seyoum UNICEF and development partners have made huge investments in improving the country and Kano State’s nutrition situation over the years, and the Child Nutrition Fund (CNF) is one programme making tremendous progress.
“The Child Nutrition Fund is a new catalytic financing mechanism that allows national governments to double their investment in essential nutrition commodities to accelerate the scale-up of policies, programmes for the prevention, early detection, and treatment of malnutrition. The Child Nutrition Match Fund, supported by key donors and managed by UNICEF is a unique match funding instrument in which UNICEF and its partners match government financing of essential nutrition commodities in a ratio of 1:1, allowing governments to double their investment in essential nutrition commodities to accelerate the scale-up of policies, programmes for the prevention, early detection, and treatment of malnutrition.
The UNICEF health manager further said Kano state is the first state in Nigeria with the highest singular contribution to the Child Nutrition Fund, with the release of N500 million naira which till date is the highest single funding by a State in Nigeria.
“UNICEF matched the Government fund with an additional N500 million naira (N500,000,000)
The fund pooled together procured 12,948 cartons of RUTF.
The therapeutic food will treat over 17,000 severely malnourished children.” Dr. Serekeberehem added.
“UNICEF had also provided adequate quantities of Vitamin A supplements and MMS for the first round of Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week.to reach children 6-59 months and pregnant women respectively.” He said
The manager pointed out that UNICEF will continue to partner with the state and work across key sectors to improve nutrition and health outcomes indigenes of Kano state including women and children.
” I hereby request the Governor of Kano State to:
Release more resources in 2025 which UNICEF will also match to procure more commodities, especially RUTF and MMS through the CNF.
To Conduct the second round of MNCHW not later than early December 2025 and procure deworming tablets in sufficient quantities to reach all children 12-59 months in the state.
And also to approve 6 months paid maternity leave in the state to protect infant health and nutrition and support exclusive breastfeeding. UNICEF urged
Speaking earlier, Kano state Governor Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf said malnutrition is one of the major health challenges not only in Kano but in the entire country, that’s why Kano state government in collaboration with UNICEF flag off the campaign.
“Am very happy to say that, all of our 44 local government areas have one nutrition intervention. Within the period under review, we have provided equipments, consumable other commodities and even staff training for CMAM establishment and Reactivation.” Gov. Abba Kabir Yusuf said.
According to the Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, after through the collaboration with UNICEF, Kano state government procured live saving Ready-to-use Therapeutic food RUTF worth One billion Naira for the benefit of all state malnourished children.
“I want use this opportunity to thank UNICEF for its intervention and I assured you that, the distribution of this commodities will be carefully monitored by the state ministry for health and other stakeholders, traditional rulers, Religious and community Leaders across the 44 local government areas of the state.” Gov. Abba emphasized.
In his speech, the state commissioner for health Dr Abubakar Labaran Yusuf said the historic event comprised flag off of Ready-to-use Therapeutic food RUTF and the laying foundation for Revitalizition of 187 Impact project Primary healthcare facilities.
Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusuf also highlights some of achievements achieved by the present administration in the health sector.
In his remarks the Royal father of the day, His Highness the Emir of Kano Malam Muhammad Sunusi II through the District Head of Sumaila Alhaji Aminu Abdullahi Nasidi described the One billion Naira collaboration fund between Kano state government and UNICEF in Ready-to-use Therapeutic food RUTF for the malnourished children in the state as highly commendable.
