UNICEF, Kwara Government Supply Life-Saving RUTF to Tackle Child Malnutrition
By Uangbaoje Alex, Kaduna
In a bold move to combat severe acute malnutrition among children, UNICEF and the Kwara State Government have commenced the distribution of 3,964 cartons of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Foods (RUTF) across the state.
The intervention, funded under the Child Nutrition Fund (CNF), marks a significant milestone in efforts to improve child health and nutrition outcomes in Kwara.
The life-saving food supplements are being delivered in two batches, with 1,982 cartons already supplied in the first phase. The remaining half is expected in the coming weeks.
The RUTF will be distributed to health facilities statewide and administered to children under five suffering from severe wasting—a critical condition characterized by dangerously low weight-for-height.
Speaking at the handover ceremony in Ilorin, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to ending malnutrition.
“Our contribution to the Child Nutrition Fund is a reaffirmation of our dedication to eradicating malnutrition among our children in Kwara State.
“This partnership with UNICEF is more than a collaboration, it is a shared mission to uphold the fundamental rights of women and children,” the Governor said.
The supply of RUTF was made possible through a matching fund arrangement under the CNF, where the Kwara State Government contributed USD 100,000, matched by UNICEF. The innovative financing model is designed to encourage state-led investment in child nutrition by matching government funds dollar-for-dollar with donor contributions.
UNICEF’s Country Representative in Nigeria, Cristian Munduate, praised Kwara State’s proactive stance.
“The Kwara State Government’s commitment is commendable.
“Through the Child Nutrition Fund, we can double our impact and reach more children with essential nutrition support. We hope this inspires other states to prioritize nutrition,” she said.
Munduate also called on the state to take full advantage of the upcoming Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) Week scheduled for May/June.
“This is a critical opportunity to provide Vitamin A supplements, deworming tablets, and micronutrient support to women and children. We also urge the government to strengthen the Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition (IMAM) services by assigning additional health personnel across all LGAs,” she added.
Malnutrition continues to pose a major threat to child survival in Nigeria. In Kwara, thousands of children face the risk of stunting, wasting, and micronutrient deficiencies. The deployment of RUTF is seen as a timely response to the crisis, ensuring access to therapeutic nutrition for those most in need.
UNICEF emphasized the importance of sustained investments and long-term planning to maintain the gains and scale up nutrition services. With strong political will and strategic partnerships, child malnutrition in Kwara could become a thing of the past.
