The Kaduna State Government has acquired 2,300 cartons of Ready-To-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) worth N87.4 million for the treatment of malnourished children in the state.
The State Nutrition Officer, Mrs Ramatu Haruna made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Zaria.
She told NAN on the sideline of a two-day review meeting with Local Government Nutrition Focal Persons that the development was part of achievements recorded in the first quarter of 2022.
Haruna described RUTF as an “energy dense, micronutrient paste” made using peanuts, sugar, milk powder, oil, vitamins, and minerals effective in treatment of children with severe malnutrition.
She said that the development would go a long way in ensuring that no child dies of malnutrition in the state.
She added that besides treatment of the malnourished children, the government with support from development partners was promoting adequate Maternal, Infant and Young Child Feeding (MIYCF) practices.
The MICYN, according to her, is an effective strategy for preventing malnutrition among women, adolescents, and children under five years.
The nutrition officer added that the government had procured and distributed 100 Zinox tablets to 100 health workers for effective data collection (ANRiN).
She explained that the procurement was supported by the World Bank-supported Accelerating Nutrition Result in Nigeria (ANRiN).
She added that N5 million worth of iron folic acid and salphadioxine pyramitamine were procured through Planning and Budget Commission for the prevention of anemia in Igabi, and Birnin Gwari LGAs.
She also said that additional quantities of the drugs, worth N23 million were also procured with support from ANRiN, for additional 12 LGAs.
“Other achievements recorded within the first quarter include supportive supervision in 32 MIYCN facilities and MICYN monthly data validation in 100 health facilities providing nutrition services.
“We also recorded increased documentation of vitamin A and deworming medication and equally strengthened food demonstration activities and increased number food demonstration corners in primary health care facilities.
“Also, our 990 community volunteers have conducted community sensitisation to 43,662 persons on maternal, infant, and young child nutrition practices,” she said.
Earlier, Dr Zainab Muhammad-Idris, ANRiN Project Manager in the state, said that the five-year project was designed to increase the utilisation of quality, cost effective nutrition services.
Muhammad-Idris, who was represented by Mr Musa Abubakar, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, identified the beneficiaries as pregnant and lactating women, adolescent girls and children under five years.
She said that the project was providing Basic Package of Nutrition Services (BPNS) and Adolescent Health Services at community level through non-state actors.
Also, Mr Umar Bamable, Project Manager, Kaduna State Emergency Nutrition Action Plan, thanked development partners for supporting the state government to address the scourge of malnutrition.
Bambale said that the review meeting would provide the opportunity to review progress, challenges and discuss implementation of activities planned for the second quarter.
