The Sokoto State Government has committed no fewer than N500 million to tackle the rising severe acute malnutrition among children in the state.
Governor Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto disclosed this during a high-level advocacy visit to Sokoto, led by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Prof. Nantewa Yilwatda, according to a statement signed by his Director General, Media and Publicity, Mal. Abubakar Bawa.
Speaking, the governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to improve the healthcare delivery system in the state.
Governor Aliyu however thanked the United Nations Children’s Fund, an agency of the United Nations for their dedication to providing humanitarian and developmental aid to children worldwide.
He also appreciated its partners for their unwavering support across health and education sectors in the state.
Speaking earlier, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Prof. Nantewa Yilwatda, lauded the State Government and its development partners for their efforts in combating malnutrition, particularly the surge in Severe Acute Malnutrition among children.
The Minister urged both the federal and state governments to scale up their commitments and resources toward addressing the nutrition crisis in the region.
She however called on the State Government to explore homegrown solutions in nutrition production, especially through its capacity for large-scale grain production.
Prof. Yilwatda notes the visit underscored the critical need for immediate, coordinated, and sustained efforts from all levels of government and development partners to curb the worsening malnutrition situation in Sokoto State.
The European Union’s Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ambassador Gautier Mignot, commended the state government for its hospitality.
He reaffirmed the European Union’s commitment to supporting malnourished and vulnerable children across Sokoto and Nigeria at large.
The UNICEF Country Representative, Ms Cristian Munduate described the current nutrition crisis as alarming, citing findings from a recent SMART survey.
She announced that UNICEF had provided N1.5 billion in counter-funding to support the state’s efforts and encouraged the adoption of local and sustainable approaches to address SAM.
The advocacy delegation later visited a health facility in the state capital alongside the Deputy Governor, where they observed the treatment of SAM cases managed by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and UNICEF.
