UNICEF global champions lament high rate of malnutrition in Katsina

The United Nations Children Funds Global Champions, Ali Nuhu and Sadau Ramah have lamented the large number of children facing malnutrition in Katsina State.

The UNICEF global champions, while at a press conference on Thursday in Katsina, called on stakeholders to intensify efforts to tackle malnutrition to reduce the child mortality rate.

Champions for Children are members of a unique community of UNICEF patrons—an important part of our family. They help UNICEF improve services on health, nutrition, and education for children around the world, according to the UN.

Meanwhile, PUNCH reported efforts to address malnutrition, by the state government and UNICEF on Wednesday procured nutritional supplements worth N400 million to be distributed to 8,000 malnourished children across all the 34 local government areas of the state.

While speaking, Nuhu, during an on-the-spot assessment of some local government areas in the state, said what he saw in terms of the number of malnourished children, was pathetic.

“What we saw was pathetic. We even noticed a rise in the number of children being brought to health centres because they were malnourished.

“There is a need for stakeholders, including the state government, to urgently intensify efforts to address the situation,” Nuhu said.

He further added that the high number may not be unconnected with the economic hardship being faced by many families in the state and other parts of the country.

Also speaking, Ramah called on stakeholders not to rest on their oars in the effort to tackle malnutrition as urgently as possible in order to secure a better future for children.

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