Malnourished children dying in Katsina as Councils withhold funds

Malnourished children dying in Katsina as Councils withhold funds

Monday, March 13, 2017 11:26 pm


Governor Masari of Katsina State

A nongovernmental organisation, Save the Children International has raised alarm about the continuous death of children from malnutrition in Katsina State in the last nine months because of government’s failure to release funds required for their treatment.

The group’s Area Operations Manager, Mr Nura Muhammad said in a statement on Monday in Katsina that the children were being treated in 109 Community Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) centers in 15 local government areas of the state.

He however noted that the Councils have failed to release monthly financial support of N250,000 they are expected to contribute for the programme for the past nine months.

Muhammad, according to News Agency of Nigeria, NAN listed the councils to include Zango, Daura, Kaita, Dutsi, Jibia, Danmusa, Batsari, Ingawa, Sandamu, Baure, Mashi, Mani, Bakori, Mai’adua and Bindawa.

‘’The release has been sporadic, the last release was in June 2016,’’ he said.

Muhammad explained that the money was for the transportation of Ready to Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) and procurement of drugs to treat malnourished children with complications.

According to him, children with severe malnutrition and complication were usually admitted at Stabilization Centers for three to five days to cure the ailment first before giving the RUTF.

He added that thousands of children were treated weekly across the 109 CMAM centers in those areas.

“Many children have died as a result of the non release of the funds.

“We are calling on the state government to look into the issue with a view to providing lasting solution to the problem,’’ he said.


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