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Tag: Katsina Government

  • Katsina government tackles malnutrition through comprehensive health, nutrition, food security measures

    Katsina government tackles malnutrition through comprehensive health, nutrition, food security measures

    The Katsina State Government has restated its strong commitment to addressing the ongoing malnutrition crisis in the state, following recent reports highlighting high child mortality rates linked to the condition.

    Speaking at a press briefing in Katsina today, Dr. Shamsuddeen Yahaya, Executive Secretary of the Katsina State Primary Health Care Agency, acknowledged the report from Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) regarding mortality at one of the state’s inpatient therapeutic treatment centres.

    He described the findings as a “wake-up call” for all stakeholders to work together in combating malnutrition, which remains one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality among children in Katsina and other parts of northern Nigeria.

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    He said: “We do not view this report negatively; It is an urgent reminder for government, partners, and communities to join hands in addressing both the immediate and underlying causes of malnutrition.”

    Dr. Yahaya also highlighted the Government Action and Investment in nutrition and primary healthcare under the administration of Governor Malam Dikko Umaru Radda.

    He said: “Shortly after assuming office, the Governor approved N200 million in counterpart funding to UNICEF, unlocking a matching N200 million contribution for the procurement and distribution of nutrition commodities.”

    ‘’In 2024, the State Government budgeted and released an additional N300 million for the same purpose, matched again by UNICEF to bring the total investment to N600 million.”

    ‘’Since 2016, the government has identified 14 critical Local Government Areas (LGAs) for targeted malnutrition interventions, providing N250,000 for each LG  monthly to support outpatient therapeutic programmes (OTP).”

  • UNICEF, Katsina Government tackle malnutrition with N1b

    UNICEF, Katsina Government tackle malnutrition with N1b

    The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Katsina Government have declared war against malnutrition  by committing additional N1 billion to combat the scourge ravaging parts of the State.

    The Nation repprts that some 650 children died from malnutrition between January and June 2025 with Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) prevalence in the Mashi Local Government Area.

    Speaking during a meeting of the Standardised Monitoring and Assessment of Relief and Transition (SMART) survey in Katsina, the Executive Secretary of the State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. Shamsudeen Yahaya, said that the State Government and UNICEF would provide N500 million each in the 2025 fiscal year to address the issue of malnutrition.

    According to him: “Since the coming of this present administration, His Excellency, Malam Dikko Umar Radda, has prioritised healthcare delivery, especially primary healthcare and the welfare of children. 

    ”This year, the State Government will provide N500 million while UNICEF will match it with the same amount, making it N1 billion to address acute malnutrition in the state.

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    “Since 2016, 14 local government councils have been contributing N250,000 monthly, amounting to N3.5 million to attenuate malnutrition amongst children and breastfeeding mothers.”

    The UNICEF Nutrition Specialist, Niyi Oyedokun, described the SMART survey meeting as crucial, noting that the Katsina State government is taking the leadership of the conduct of the exercise.

    He said “The meeting is to sensitise all the major stakeholders, including all the 34 Local Government Areas chairmen who were invited, among other partners. 

    “UNICEF is supporting the government and UNICEF is funding the SMART Survey, but the government of Katsina State is also contributing both financially and facilities as well”