In a significant effort to combat child malnutrition, the Kwara State Government has joined forces with UNICEF to distribute 4,000 cartons of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) to mothers across the state. This initiative is part of the global Child Nutrition Fund and aims to address the urgent nutritional needs of children in Kwara.
At a handover ceremony in Ilorin, 1,982 cartons of RUTF were formally given to beneficiaries, with the remainder to be delivered in the coming weeks. Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Mamman Jibril, reaffirmed his administration’s dedication to ending child malnutrition.
He highlighted that the partnership with UNICEF, established in late 2023, involved a $200,000 investment jointly funded by both parties. “Parents of malnourished children can now access this life-saving nutrition at designated health facilities, where trained health workers will ensure proper administration and monitoring.
“Our investment in the Child Nutrition Fund underscores our unwavering commitment to safeguarding the health and future of Kwara’s children,” the governor said.
Cristian Munduate, UNICEF’s Representative in Nigeria, praised the state’s leadership, noting that over 40 percent of children in Kwara are stunted and nearly 300,000 suffer from wasting.
“This initiative sends a powerful message of compassion and responsibility. It’s not just about distributing food. It’s about saving lives and giving children a fair chance to thrive,” Munduate said.
She also called for increased funding and human resources to strengthen Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition (IMAM) services across the state’s local government areas. She encouraged the state to use the upcoming Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health (MNCH) week to provide key interventions such as vitamin A supplements, deworming, and micronutrient support.
Professor Aisha Gbolagade, a paediatrician and lecturer at the University of Ilorin, stressed the critical nature of the crisis, calling severe acute malnutrition (SAM) a national emergency.
“Every day, over 1,000 Nigerian children die from SAM-related causes. That’s more than 400,000 deaths annually. We must invest more in domestic solutions, integrate malnutrition care into our healthcare system, and support local production of RUTF,” she said.
Also present, the Commissioner for Planning and Economic Development, Mrs Mary Arinde, described RUTF as more than a nutritional product.
“It helps children recover, grow, and live healthy lives like their peers. This is not just about nutrition. It’s about restoring futures,” she said.
