The number of severely malnourished children admitted for special care at Community Management of Acute Malnutrition sites has increased from 2,796 in the first quarter of 2021 to 8,157 in the second quarter of the year.
This was disclosed by the Project Manager, Kaduna State Emergency Nutrition Action Plan, Umar Bambale, during a one-day Nutrition Partners’ Second Quarter Coordination and Review Meeting in Kaduna yesterday,
According to the Project Manager, three children died of the disease in the first quarter, while 28 died in the second quarter.
He said the number of children treated also increased from 2,730 in the first quarter to 4,631 in the second quarter of 2021 because of the increased availability of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food, (RUTF), at CMAM centres, adding that the State government has approved the release of N500 million for the procurement of RUTF.
Bambale added that the Government also released N134 million in the second quarter of the year to KADENAP for the implementation of nutrition programmes.
The manager explained that the RUTF was an energy-dense, mineral- and vitamin-enriched food, specifically designed to treat severely malnourished children.
According to him, the State government was making necessary efforts to sensitise mothers and caregivers to good nutrition practices.
In his remarks, the Director, Development Aid Coordination, Planning and Budget Commission, Salisu Baba, said the State government was working with development partners to optimise utilisation of resources.
