The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) says 11 million children under five in Nigeria are currently living in severe child food poverty, making them 50% more likely to suffer from wasting, a life-threatening form of malnutrition.
The UNICEF Chief of Field Office Kano, Mr Rahma Rihood Mohammed Farah, stated this during the official handover of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) procured through a joint government and UNICEF Child Nutrition Match Fund initiative held at PHC Takai LGA.
Jigawa State Government Hands Over 500M RUTF To UNICEF
Represented by UNICEF’s Health Manager, Dr Serekeberehan Seyoum Deres, Mr Rahma said 51.9% of children in Kano are stunted, while over 10% are wasted or too thin for their weight.
According to him, the Child Nutrition Match Fund, managed by UNICEF and supported by international donors, is a 1:1 match-funding scheme that allows governments to double their investment in essential nutrition commodities.
“This approach supports the prevention, early detection, and treatment of malnutrition at scale.”
He explained that Kano State has emerged as a national leader in the effort, with the highest single-state contribution of ₦500 million to the fund.
“UNICEF matched this with another ₦500 million, bringing the total to ₦1 billion, which was used to procure 12,948 cartons of RUTF – enough to treat over 17,000 children suffering from severe acute malnutrition.”
The health manager pointed out that UNICEF defines child food poverty as the inability of children under five to access and consume a nutritious and diverse diet, a period critical for physical growth and brain development.
Dr Deres emphasised that UNICEF and development partners have made significant strides in improving nutrition across Nigeria and particularly in Kano State.
He commended the government’s leadership and reaffirmed UNICEF’s commitment to continued collaboration.
“With the window of opportunity still open for the Child Nutrition Match Fund, I urge His Excellency, the Governor of Kano State, to allocate additional resources in 2025, which UNICEF will again match, to procure more RUTF and Micronutrient Supplements (MMS).
“Approve a six-month paid maternity leave policy in the state to promote exclusive breastfeeding and protect infant health and nutrition.”
UNICEF Urges Kano to Extend Maternity Leave, Invest More in MNCH
UNICEF reiterated its commitment to supporting Kano State through strategic, multisectoral partnerships aimed at improving nutrition and health outcomes, especially for women and children.