By Abdullahi Tukur Birnin Kebbi.
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 of the 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 was 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.
Governor Nasir Idris, while receiving the donation, expressed profound appreciation to UNICEF for its prompt humanitarian intervention to the state.
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.
