Jude Diugwu
In a significant move to combat malnutrition, UNICEF has handed over 12,400 cartons of Ready to Use Therapeutic Foods (RUTF) to the Jigawa State Government, which is expected to treat 14,000 children with wasting. This initiative, funded through the Child Nutrition Fund (CNF), reinforces the unwavering commitment of both partners to improving child health in the state.
The Child Nutrition Fund is a unique funding instrument that allows governments to double their investment, accelerating the scale-up of policies and programs for the prevention, early detection, and treatment of malnutrition. Jigawa State was one of the early adopters of the fund, releasing 250 million Naira in 2023, enabling the procurement of 12,400 cartons of RUTF. This is the largest contribution by any state in Nigeria under the CNF to date.
Governor Mallam Umar Namadi expressed his government’s commitment to improving the nutritional status of women and children, saying it is a matter of their fundamental rights.
