The Kano State Government has cautioned nutrition officers in the state against diverting or selling supplements meant for malnourished children, warning that anyone caught will face arrest and prosecution.
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The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusuf, issued the warning on Wednesday during the closeout and dissemination meeting of the Maternal, Infant and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN) and Micronutrient Supplementation (MMS) project with nutrition coordinators in Kano.
Dr. Yusuf stressed that the government would not tolerate acts capable of undermining interventions targeted at improving the health of mothers, children, and adolescents. He noted that security agencies have been directed to monitor the distribution process, adding that anyone responsible for the disappearance of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) would face serious consequences.
The commissioner explained that the RUTF initiative, worth N1 billion, was jointly funded by the Kano State Government and UNICEF, with Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf contributing N500 million and UNICEF providing another N500 million. He said the intervention seeks to tackle malnutrition and anemia among children and pregnant women across the state.
Highlighting the role of partners, Dr. Yusuf commended the FHI 360 Alive and Thrive Nigeria Project for its support in scaling up nutrition interventions. Over the past four years, the project has trained more than 8,000 health workers in Kano, enhancing their capacity to deliver quality nutrition services to women and children.
He assured that the government remains committed to strengthening collaborations that will lead to healthier outcomes for vulnerable groups in the state.
