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Haruna Usman
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has donated 10,500 cartons of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) to the Kebbi State Government to strengthen the treatment of children suffering from Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) in eleven Local Government Areas identified as the most affected by malnutrition in the state.
Speaking during the rollout intervention in Birnin Kebbi on Saturday, the UNICEF Chief of Field Office, Sokoto, represented by the Nutrition Officer, Alhaji Isah Ibrahim, described the initiative as a timely response to the growing challenge of child malnutrition.
He noted that the intervention is aimed at saving the lives of thousands of children under the age of five who are battling severe acute malnutrition across the affected communities.
The UNICEF representative disclosed that findings from the 2025 SMART Survey and IPC-AMN analysis revealed that Kebbi State recorded a stunting rate of 40.9 percent and a wasting rate of 11.3 percent.
He further stated that projections indicate approximately 130,000 children under the age of five may suffer from Severe Acute Malnutrition in 2026 if urgent and sustained measures are not implemented.
He explained that sixty-one Primary Health Care Centres across the eleven most affected Local Government Areas have been selected to implement the first phase of the programme.
According to him, the 10,500 cartons of RUTF already delivered will provide immediate treatment for thousands of vulnerable children and contribute significantly to reducing child mortality associated with malnutrition.
Alhaji Isah Ibrahim stressed the need for accountability, proper monitoring, and sustained government commitment.
He emphasized that the therapeutic food must reach the intended beneficiaries without diversion, warning that the supplies are strictly meant for children diagnosed with Severe Acute Malnutrition.
In his remarks, the Executive Secretary of the Kebbi State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Alhaji Abubakar Muhammad Noma, commended UNICEF for its continued support to the health sector. He described RUTF as a proven, life-saving intervention capable of restoring the health of malnourished children and improving nutrition outcomes across the state.
Also speaking, the Director of Clinical Services at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Jibril Labbo Gwandu, who represented the Commissioner for Health, acknowledged the remarkable support being provided by development partners.
He noted that recent SMART Survey findings reflected improvements in key nutrition indicators as a result of investments made by the administration of Governor Nasir Idris in the health sector, while emphasizing the need for continued interventions in the most affected communities.
Dr. Gwandu assured UNICEF and other partners that the donated commodities would be properly safeguarded and judiciously utilized for the benefit of vulnerable children.
He disclosed that the selected health facilities across the eleven Local Government Areas would ensure efficient distribution and treatment services for affected children.
Governor Nasir Idris, while receiving the donation, expressed profound appreciation to UNICEF for its prompt humanitarian intervention.
He stated that the gesture aligns perfectly with his administration’s commitment to improving healthcare delivery, nutrition, education, water and sanitation services, as well as food security across Kebbi State.
The Governor reaffirmed the readiness of his administration to provide the necessary counterpart support to expand the programme and strengthen efforts aimed at eliminating child malnutrition.
He further commended health workers for their dedication and directed security agencies to take firm action against anyone found diverting or illegally selling the therapeutic food.
The Governor recalled that the state government recently distributed 20,000 packs of Kunun Lahiya worth N140 million to 10,000 children across the 21 Local Government Areas,reaffirming his administration’s determination to work closely with development partners to address malnutrition and improve the wellbeing of children throughout Kebbi State.
