The Executive Secretary of the Katsina State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. Shamsudeen Yahaya, has strongly condemned the diversion and illegal sale of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) by some health workers and caregivers. The food supplement, designed to treat severely malnourished children, is reportedly being traded instead of administered to those in need.
Describing the practice as “unpatriotic,” Yahaya warned that perpetrators will face legal consequences. He revealed that the state government plans to deploy security personnel to curb the misuse and ensure proper distribution of the life-saving nutrition aid.
Speaking at the 2025 SMART planning meeting held on Tuesday in Katsina, Yahaya announced that the state government will invest ₦500 million to tackle malnutrition. The funds will be used to procure RUTF, support distribution efforts, and enhance services for managing malnutrition across the State.
The initiative is part of a broader collaboration between the Katsina State Government and the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, which has contributed over $100,000 to the nutrition project. The funding, supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), will bolster efforts to reach vulnerable children.
As part of the campaign, both partners are conducting a Standardised Monitoring and Assessment of Relief Transitions (SMART) Survey. The survey aims to generate real-time data on the prevalence of wasting, stunting, and underweight among children aged 6 to 59 months across Katsina’s 34 local government areas.
UNICEF Nutrition Specialist Mr. Niyi Oyedokun emphasised the importance of the data-driven approach, noting that the survey will guide targeted interventions and resource allocation.
Nutritionist Mr. Nura Shehu also addressed the gathering, stressing that malnutrition is a local issue requiring community-based solutions. “We have all the food varieties within our communities,” he said, “but what’s missing is the knowledge of how to use them effectively.”
