The Kaduna State Government says it has treated no fewer than 12,251 malnourished children between January and September 2021. The state nutrition officer, Ramatu Musa, disclosed this recently in Zaria at the end of a two-day third quarter review meeting with local government nutrition focal persons.

Mrs. Ramatu said that the figure was out of the 24,548 admitted at various community management of acute malnutrition sites across the state. She explained that out of the 24,548 children, 16,358 were new admissions, while 8,190 were spillover of untreated cases from 2020.

The official also said that 46 children died from the deficiency condition within the period, indicating a significant reduction from the 124 deaths recorded between January and September of 2020.

She said that to manage the situation, government increased the number of local governments providing CMAM services from two in 2017 to 16 in 2021. Musa added that the state currently had 82 Primary Health Centres providing outpatient therapeutic programmes to treat severe acute malnourished children with 17 secondary health facilities as stabilization centres.

Mr. Umar Bambale, the Project Manager, Kaduna State Nutrition Emergency Action Plan, said that the government and its partners were investing more on Community – Infant and Young Child Feeding practices.

He said that so far, a total of 558 health care providers and 1,156 community volunteers were trained on C-IYCF services in 22 local government areas of the state, with only one outstanding area.

He also explained that through support groups, the community volunteers would educate and enlighten mothers and caregivers on optimal C-IYCF practices for a strong growth and healthy development of infants and young children. Punch