Monday, August 11, 2025 - Data by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has revealed that about 11 million children under the age experience severe child food poverty, making them up to 50 per cent more likely to experience wasting, a life-threatening form of malnutrition.
UNICEF also declared that in Kano, over 51.9% (one out
of two) of children are stunted or are not growing well, while over 10 per cent
are wasted or too thin for their height.
The UNICEF Chief of Field Office Kano, Mr Rahma Rihood
Mohammed Farah, stated this during the official handover of Ready-to-Use
Therapeutic Food (RUTF) procured through a joint government and UNICEF Child
Nutrition Marching Fund initiative held at Primary Healthcare Centre, Takai
Local Government Area.
Rahama, who was represented by UNICEF’s Health Manager, Dr
Serekeberehan Seyoum Deres, said UNICEF achieved results in the area of food
nutrition security crisis.
According to him, UNICEF defined child food poverty as
children’s inability to access and consume a nutritious and diverse diet in
early childhood.
He said the definition 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.
“With the window of opportunity still open for the Child
Nutrition Match Fund, I hereby request His Excellency, 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.
“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. Approve six months paid maternity leave
in the state to protect infant health and nutrition and support exclusive
breastfeeding,” he said.
He further stated that 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.
Seyoum hinted that Kano state is the first state in
Nigeria with the highest singular contribution to the Child Nutrition Fund,
with the release of N500 million, which to date is the highest single funding
by a State in Nigeria.
He added that, “UNICEF matched the Government fund with an
additional N500 million. The fund pooled together procured 12,948 cartons of
RUTF.
“The therapeutic food will treat over 17,000 severely
malnourished children.
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.
” UNICEF will continue to partner with the state and work
across key sectors to improve nutrition and health outcomes of indigenes of
Kano state, including women and children.”
Kano state Governor, Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf lauded UNICEF’s
partnership with the state.
He said: “Our commitment to saving lives and improving the
health and well-being of our dear populace remains steadfast. Let me say that
malnutrition is one of the major health challenges being faced, not only in the
state but in the entire country.
” I am, therefore, very happy to say that for the first
time, all our 44 Local Government Areas have one form of nutrition intervention
or the other. Let me say that within the period under review, we have provided
equipment, consumables, other commodities and even staff training for CMA
establishment and reactivation.
“Secondly, I am also pleased to announce that through the
collaboration of the UNICEF, we have procured life-saving ready-to-use
therapeutic food RUTF worth N1 billion. This food, meant for the children, is
for the benefit of all the malnourished children. The distribution of this food
will therefore be carefully monitored by the Ministry of Health and other
stakeholders, including the traditional rulers, religious and community leaders
across the 44 Local Government Areas of the state.
“It is our belief that this type of intervention will
drastically reduce the worrisome indices of malnutrition, especially stunting
will be reversed and that each child in Kano will have a well-nourished growth
and development process.
“At this point in time, I want to extend our special
appreciation to UNICEF for their understanding, support and other commitments
towards assisting the children, especially those from the vulnerable families
across the state and by extension this country.
“More grace to the management and staff of the UNICEF, as
well as all the other donor and development partners that I have mentioned
earlier.”
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