Kaduna Adopts Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food for Children!
Reported by Marian Opeyemi Fasesan | Sele Media Africa
Kaduna State has made history as the first sub-national government in Nigeria to officially adopt and implement the Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) initiative — a significant milestone in the fight against severe acute malnutrition (SAM) in children.
What We Know:
- The RUTF programme is designed to provide life-saving nutrition to children suffering from SAM, using nutrient-dense, pre-packaged food.
- Kaduna’s Commissioner for Health, Umma Ahmed, announced the initiative’s rollout during a nutrition stakeholders’ forum in Zaria.
- The state has committed funding to scale up access across local government areas, in partnership with UNICEF and other development partners.
Quote:
“This is not just a policy; it is a lifeline for thousands of children. We are proud to lead by example.”
— Umma Ahmed, Kaduna State Commissioner for Health
Why It Matters:
- Over 2 million Nigerian children suffer from SAM annually, many of whom lack access to treatment.
- Kaduna’s adoption of RUTF sets a precedent for state-level ownership of nutrition interventions.
- Enhances child survival rates and complements broader public health strategies.
What to Watch:
- Implementation outcomes and potential scale-up to other states.
- Federal government endorsement or replication nationwide.
- Impact on under-five mortality rates in Kaduna State.
Sources:
- UNICEF Nigeria – Nutrition Programme Updates
- Kaduna State Ministry of Health Briefing – Nov. 4, 2025
- Premium Times – “Kaduna launches therapeutic food to fight malnutrition”
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