The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) announced on Tuesday that 300,000 children in Kwara State will begin receiving Ready-To-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF).
Mrs Christian Munduate, UNICEF Country Representative, made the announcement in Ilorin during the handing over ceremony of the RUTF supplies.
She explained that UNICEF, in partnership with the Kwara State Government, has deployed 3,964 cartons of RUTF to combat child malnutrition in the state.
“This initiative, funded through the Child Nutrition Fund (CNF), reflects the shared commitment of both partners to improve child health and tackle severe acute malnutrition among children in Kwara,” she stated.
Munduate highlighted the urgent need for intervention, noting that over 40 per cent of children in the state suffer from stunting, while nearly 300,000 are affected by wasting.
She added that UNICEF and the state government are working together to address malnutrition, particularly during the critical first 1,000 days of a child’s life.
Munduate observed that treatment for severe acute malnutrition is currently limited to a few health facilities in Kwara, emphasising the need to expand access to reach more children.
She praised the Kwara Government’s contribution of $100,000, which UNICEF matched to procure the RUTF for treatment, describing it as a significant and commendable achievement.
“This initiative is life-saving for children suffering from severe acute malnutrition and wasting,” she said.
In her welcome remarks, Dr Mary Arinde, Kwara Commissioner for Planning and Economic Development, underscored the importance of good nutrition for children’s mental and physical development.
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She described RUTF as a specially formulated therapeutic food designed to help malnourished children overcome nutritional deficiencies and grow healthily alongside their peers.
“It is not only a life-saver but a destiny-saver for malnourished children, giving them a second chance to lead quality lives,” Dr Arinde said.
Dr Amina El-Imam, Kwara Commissioner for Health, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to eradicating malnutrition among children.
She noted that the government had previously undertaken health and nutrition interventions, including deworming 700,000 children and administering Vitamin A, Zinc, and Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS), among others.
Dr El-Imam pledged to distribute these essential, life-saving commodities to Primary Healthcare centres across all 16 local government areas in the state.
