Katsina procures ‘therapeutic food’ to treat 8,000 malnourished kids

The Katsina government says it has procured “ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF)” to treat about 8,000 children suffering from malnutrition in the state.

The state government, in collaboration with the United Nations Children Funds (UNICEF), procured the therapeutic food, which is valued at N400 million.

Speaking on Wednesday while receiving the supplements, Dikko Radda, governor of Katsina, said the collaboration was necessary to reduce the high number of malnourished children in the state.

“Katsina state government has provided N200 million, which the UNICEF has equally matched with N200 million for the treatment of our children under five years,” NAN quoted Radda as saying.

“Ages zero to five is the most critical period in life. So, if we are able to address the issue of malnutrition within that range, I think we are saving lives.

“About 8,000 children will benefit from the programme.”

The governor added that his administration is committed to providing such interventions for a healthier population.

Cristian Munduate, UNICEF country representative, said the intervention is crucial to saving the lives of malnourished kids.

Munduate said 7,000 cartons of RUTF were purchased to provide life-saving assistance to 8,000 children under the age of five in the state.

“Unfortunately, many of them who have reached this stage, malnutrition has already impaired their intellectual capacities,” she said.

“We are saving them so that they will function as any other normal child who can grow and develop in future.

“We cannot continue losing children.”