Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State has accused the previous administration of allowing nutrition centres across the state to deteriorate despite rising cases of child malnutrition.
Speaking in Takai Local Government Area on Thursday, Mr Yusuf said the state had launched a broad intervention to tackle malnutrition and improve child health.
The plan includes reopening dormant nutrition centres and carrying out mass drug administration for children under five.
“Our commitment remains firm to save lives and improve the health and well-being of the people of Kano State,” he said.
The governor said the Comprehensive Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) centres in many areas had been abandoned by the past government, worsening the problem.
He announced that all 44 local government areas would now have functional centres, equipped with supplies and trained staff.
“For the first time, all our 44 LGAs now have some form of nutrition intervention,” he stated.
He added that, in partnership with UNICEF, the state had procured Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) worth N1 billion to help malnourished children.
“The distribution will be closely monitored by health authorities, traditional rulers, religious leaders, and community stakeholders to ensure effective coverage. We are confident this intervention will help reverse troubling nutrition trends like stunting and ensure every child grows healthy and well-nourished,” Mr Yusuf said.
The governor also launched the mass administration of Azithromycin under the Mini Number Two project, targeting more than three million children aged one to 59 months to cut deaths from pneumonia, diarrhoea, malaria, neonatal infections, measles, and malnutrition-related complications.
“The programme, supported by the Federal Ministry of Health, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, and the Solina Centre for International Development and Research, is valued at N7.2 billion,” he explained.
On healthcare facilities, he said 187 primary health centres are being upgraded under the World Bank-supported IMPACT project, alongside the renovation of 18 secondary healthcare centres. He also noted that children with sickle cell disease are receiving special attention under broader child survival efforts.
UNICEF’s health manager in Kano, Serekeberehan Deres, urged the government to release more funds next year.
“UNICEF will match these funds through the Child Nutrition Match Fund for procurement of more RUTF and Multiple Micronutrient Supplements,” Ms Deres said.
She also called for the second round of the Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week to be carried out and for the approval of six months’ paid maternity leave to promote exclusive breastfeeding.
According to her, Kano currently leads all Nigerian states in contributions to the Child Nutrition Fund, with N500 million matched by UNICEF to provide nearly 13,000 cartons of RUTF, benefiting over 17,000 severely malnourished children.
“We thank His Excellency, the Governor of Kano State, and all partners for their continued collaboration and commitment to tackling malnutrition,” she added.
NAN
