United Nations Children’s Fund, Unicef, has donated 10,500 cartons of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food to the Kebbi State Government.
This intervention aims to treat children suffering from Severe Acute Malnutrition across 11 of the hardest-hit local government areas in the state.
Recent data highlights a critical nutrition crisis in the state, prompting urgent humanitarian action.
The rollout of the life-saving intervention took place in Birnin Kebbi, the state capital. Speaking at the event, Unicef Nutrition Officer Isah Ibrahim, representing the Sokoto Field Office Chief, described the initiative as a critical and timely step to save thousands of children under the age of five.
Data from the 2025 SMART Survey and IPC analysis shows Kebbi State faces a forty-point-nine percent stunting rate and an eleven-point-three percent wasting rate.
Experts warn that without sustained measures, roughly 130,000 children under five could suffer from severe acute malnutrition this year.
Unicef is demanding strict accountability to ensure the supplies reach the vulnerable population.
Responding to the call for transparency, the Director of Clinical Services at the Ministry of Health, Jibril Labbo Gwandu, assured partners that the commodities will be safeguarded.
Selected health facilities across the 11 affected local governments will handle the distribution and treatment.
Receiving the donation, Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris thanked Unicef for the rapid response. He pledged that the state will provide the necessary counterpart funding to expand nutrition programmes.
With the partnership, stakeholders hope to significantly lower the high malnutrition rates and secure a healthier future for Kebbi State’s children.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
