By Ahmed Rufa’i, Dutse
Jigawa state has released the sum of N250 million as counterparts fund for the procurement of Ready to Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) to fight acute child Malnutrition in the state.
This was contained in press statement issued by the Chief Nutrition Officer in the state, Malam Saidu Umar
He said the balance of N250 million would be made up by the United Nations Children Funds (UNICEF).
Malam Umar explained that, UNICEF has already approved it’s grant of Two hundred and fifty million Naira which made the total money N500 million for the procurement of the commodity.
According to him under the agreement UNICEF will facilitate and supervise the process of the procurement of RUTF and equally assist in it’s management and distribution at various Centres For Management of Accurate Malnutrition (CMAM).
He added that about 10,000 persons who are suffering from acute malnutriton in the state will benefit from the commodity.
“Besides RUTF the state is also supporting various programm to enhance material and child nutrition in the state for addressing the high rate of Child Malnutrition and stunting”.
In his comment on the approval, the chairman of Civil Society working around Nutrition in Jigawa state known as Jigawa Coalition of Civil Societies on Nutrition (JICCON) Comrade Shuaibu Musa described the approval as an action that will save many lives.
“Already all the 67 CMAM centres in the state are out of stuck, now our hope is rekindle, RUTF will soon be available for curing malnourished children in the state”.
He commented the UNICEF and Jigawa state on their dogged collaboration in tackling the menace of child Malnutrition ” Thanks for the Humanitarian Work” Kafin Gana stated