Sokoto and UNICEF launch N200m nutrition initiative, officials warn against diversion

This initiative includes N100m from the state government, matched by UNICEF, for the Child Nutrition Fund. UNICEF’s Deputy Country Representative, Dr Rownak Khan, commended Sokoto's commitment, noting that over 260,000 children in the state suffer from severe acute malnutrition. She emphasized a holistic approach to child health, integrating nutrition, immunization, and maternal care, and highlighted the state's 100 percent reconciliation of nutrition commodities.

UNICEF Sokoto Field Office Head, Michael Juma, stated the intervention will broaden access to Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food and other vital supplies, urging a focus on preventive nutrition and dietary diversity to prevent malnutrition from undermining education. The State Commissioner for Health, Dr Abubakar Faruk, affirmed Governor Ahmed Aliyu’s dedication to addressing hunger and child mortality, citing surveys indicating up to 85 percent of children in the state are affected by malnutrition. He warned against the diversion of supplies, detailing a multi-level accountability framework to ensure transparent distribution to verified beneficiaries, including malnourished children and vulnerable pregnant women.

The Child Nutrition Fund, supported by partners like the Gates Foundation and FCDO, aims to scale domestic investment and ensure shared accountability, with