Malnutrition: Jigawa, UNICEF Set N600m RUTF Supply Target For 2026
By: Ahmed Aminu, Dutse
The Jigawa State House of Assembly has pledged to approve up to N600 million for the procurement of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) for malnourished children in 2026.
The figure is 50 percent higher than the N300 million approved in the 2025 budget of the State Primary Healthcare Development Agency.
The Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Health, Muhammad Kabiru Ibrahim, made this known during a courtesy visit by the Civil Society Scaling-Up of Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN) national team, led by Amb. Ibrahim Tudu at the Assembly complex in Dutse.
He said that the Assembly has been working with the collaborate with the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) to tackle the menace of child malnutrition in the state.
According to him, efforts to reduce malnutrition in the state has yielded results in reducing the prevalence of stunting among children.
“Despite challenges with the release of funds, we recorded significant improvement. The percentage of stunted children in the state has reduced from 64 per cent to 55 per cent.
“Going forward, and in line with your advice, we are considering remitting our contributions directly to UNICEF for two key benefits: UNICEF counterpart funding and the timely procurement and supply of the commodity,” the lawmaker said.
He commended Governor Umar Namadi, Speaker of the House, Haruna Aliyu Dangyatin, his colleagues, partners and donor agencies for their collective commitment to uplifting the health and nutrition status of Jigawa children.
Earlier, CS-SUNN National Team Lead, Amb. Ibrahim Tudu, lauded the legislature’s role in combating malnutrition, stressing that Jigawa’s nutrition indices has improved due to the Assembly’s interventions.
“Nutrition in the state has improved by about 10 per cent as a result of combined efforts by government and partners. The prevalence of malnutrition has dropped from 64 per cent to 55.7 per cent in 2023. This is a clear indication of your commitment, especially the N300 million you collectively earmarked for RUTF procurement in 2025,” he said.
Also speaking, the CS-SUNN State Chairman, Comrade Shuaibu Musa Kafingana, expressed concern that despite the Assembly’s N300 million commitment to the State Primary Healthcare Development Agency in 2025, the funds has not been released as of the third quarter of the year.
He advised that subsequent contributions should be remitted directly to UNICEF to leverage counterpart funding and ensure prompt delivery of the RUTF.
