By Ahmed Rufa’i, Dutse
The Civil Society Scaling-Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN) has commended Governor Umar Namadi of Jigawa State for releasing N250 million as a counterpart fund for the procurement of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) in partnership with UNICEF.
In a statement issued by the state’s CS-SUNN Coordinator, Comrade Shu’aibu Musa Kafingana, the group praised the governor’s dedication to improving the welfare of children in the state. The funding will support efforts to combat malnutrition among children, a persistent health challenge in the state.
“This remarkable milestone is the result of the governor’s commitment to improving children’s lives, coupled with tireless advocacy and awareness campaigns by CS-SUNN and other stakeholders,” the statement read.
The Ministry of Health had earlier presented the initiative to the State Council, which ratified the governor’s executive approval for the release of N250 million. The funds will serve as a matching grant to UNICEF for the purchase of RUTF to address acute malnutrition in Jigawa State.
CS-SUNN also urged the state government to consider extending maternity leave from three to six months for lactating mothers. This, the group argued, would provide mothers with sufficient time to exclusively breastfeed their babies, promoting better health outcomes.
As a coalition of civil society organizations, media, and academia, CS-SUNN remains committed to improving nutrition and reducing stunting rates in Jigawa State.
The organization called on all stakeholders to sustain the momentum in tackling malnutrition and ensuring a healthier future for the state’s children.