The Katsina government and the United Nations Children Funds (UNICEF), have procured N400 million worth Ready to Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF), for treatment of malnourished children in the state.
Ms Cristian Munduate, UNICEF Country Representative, stated this at the handing over ceremony of the supplements to the Katsina State Government on Wednesday in Katsina.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the supplements were procured through Child Nutrition Match Fund.
Munduate said that the intervention was part of efforts toward saving children’s lives, especially those suffering from the malnutrition.
She noted that the duo procured 7,000 cartons of the RUTF that would be used in providing life saving assistance to almost 8,000 children of under five years.
“Unfortunately, many of them who have reached this stage, malnutrition has already impaired their intellectual capacities.
“We are saving them, so that they will function as any other normal child who can grow and develop in future.
“We cannot continue losing children,” she said.
According to her, malnutrition is preventable and called on parents, especially mothers to take care of their children by presenting them to health facilities for treatment.
In his remarks, Gov. Dikko Radda, said that the state had high number of malnourished children, hence the need for collaboration with the UNICEF and other such development partners to change the narrative.
He said that the RUTF would be given to children under five years who were suffering from malnutrition.
“Katsina state government has provided N200 million, which the UNICEF has equally matched with N200 million for the treatment of our children under five years.
“Ages zero to five is the most critical period in life. So, if we are able to address the issue of malnutrition within that range, I think we are saving lives.
“About 8,000 children will benefit from the programme,” he said.
Radda gave assurances that his administration would continue to provide such interventions when necessary for the state to have a health and productive population. (NAN)
