United Nations International Children’s Education Fund (UNICEF) reports that in every ten children five are stunted as a result of severe acute malnutrition in Jigawa state.
Philomena Irene the UNICEF’s Nutrition specialist made this known during a workshop organized at Tahir Guest Palace, in Kano State, with the aim to improve nutrition in northern Nigeria.
According to her, despite the many efforts, the number of malnourished children in Jigawa remains alarming.
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Ms. Irene added that with the efforts made by the state government in the last four years paying the counterpart fund which made it possible to access the UNICEF funding a reduction of 10% has been achieved from a high of 60% down to 50%.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health Ahmed Rufai Datti, while delivering his remarks says the ministry of health has introduced a program called ”Masaki” to fight malnutrition using locally produced food.
According to him, the Masaki program which is still at a pilot stage in 3 local government has already proven to be a workable policy in the state.
Jigawa state being an agrarian state has the potentiality to produce various nutritional supplements to fight the menace of severe acute malnutrition that is ravaging the state.
