Katsina Government, UNICEF Pledge N1 Billion to Fight Malnutrition in 2025
The Katsina State Government, in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has committed N1 billion to combat acute malnutrition in the state’s 2025 fiscal year.
This announcement comes amid rising concerns over malnutrition-related health challenges in Katsina, especially among children.
The fund will be split equally between the state government and UNICEF, with each contributing N500 million towards nutrition-specific interventions.
Executive Secretary of the Katsina State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. Shamsudeen Yahaya, disclosed this during a SMART survey planning meeting held in Katsina on Tuesday.
He noted that the effort is part of a broader strategy to tackle the malnutrition crisis through both immediate relief and long-term action plans.
“This year, the state government will provide N500 million while UNICEF will match it with the same amount, making it N1 billion to address acute malnutrition in the state,” Yahaya stated.
He emphasized that Governor Dikko Umar Radda’s administration had placed high priority on healthcare delivery, particularly in the area of child nutrition. As part of this effort, Outpatient Therapeutic Points have been established in various local government areas including Daura, Mai’Adua, Zango, Baure, and Sandamu.
Yahaya also revealed that the government has developed a multi-sectoral action plan targeting short, medium, and long-term solutions to the ongoing nutrition crisis.
“Since 2016, 14 local government councils have been contributing N250,000 monthly, amounting to N3.5 million to attenuate malnutrition amongst children and breastfeeding mothers,” he noted.
However, Yahaya raised concerns about misuse of nutrition supplements such as the Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF). He warned that some health workers and caregivers were diverting the food for sale, rather than using it to treat severely malnourished children.
He warned, “Anyone found wanting will face the wrath of the law.”
Earlier reports indicated that the Katsina State government and UNICEF had jointly procured and distributed 7,000 cartons of RUTF and other supplementary foods worth N400 million.
Speaking at the meeting, UNICEF Nutrition Specialist, Mr. Niyi Oyedokun, reiterated the importance of the upcoming 2025 SMART nutrition survey, which he said is being led by the Katsina State government with UNICEF’s technical and financial support.
“The meeting is to sensitise all the major stakeholders, including all the 34 local government areas chairmen who were invited, among other partners. UNICEF is supporting the government, and UNICEF is funding the SMART Survey, but the government of Katsina State is also contributing both financially and in facilities as well,” Oyedokun explained.
He further disclosed that the initiative is being supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), adding, “UNICEF is contributing over a hundred dollars for this project, and the Katsina State government is also contributing because we are working together.”
The SMART survey, according to the organisers, is expected to provide reliable data that will guide targeted interventions and policy development to reduce malnutrition across Katsina’s 34 local government areas, especially those grappling with insecurity.
