By: Ahmed Rufa’i
The Jigawa state first Lady and Wife of the governor, Hajiya Hadiza Umar Namadi, has raised alarm over the increasing diversion and misuse of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) meant for the treatment of severely malnourished children in the state.
Hajiya Namadi expressed the concern while receiving the Jigawa State Director of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr Ahmad Tijjani, who paid her a courtesy visit at the Government House in Dutse.
She described the practice as worrisome, noting that RUTF is a lifesaving medical commodity provided by the state government and development partners to treat children suffering from severe acute malnutrition.
According to her, the product, which is intended to save the lives of vulnerable children, is unfortunately being diverted and sold in markets and shops.
“It has come to my attention that RUTF provided by the state government and partners such as UNICEF for the treatment of severely malnourished children is being diverted and sold in markets, shops and even homes,” she said.
“RUTF is not ordinary food; it is lifesaving medicine and it must remain free for the children who need it most. This situation breaks my heart as a mother.”
The First Lady therefore called on mothers, community leaders and other stakeholders to intensify efforts to end the illegal diversion and sale of the therapeutic food.
She urged residents to speak out against the practice and report anyone involved in the sale or purchase of the commodity, warning that the act could deprive vulnerable children of the treatment they urgently need.
“No mother can remain silent when what belongs to her child is taken away. We must stand together to stop this wrongdoing,” she added.
Hajiya Namadi further warned that continued diversion of the product could discourage development partners from sustaining their support to the state.
“If we fail to act, those supporting us may lose hope and stop providing these essential supplies meant for our children. Let us rise with one voice, united and fearless, to end this dangerous practice,” she said.
Earlier, the Jigawa State Director of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Alhaji Ahmad Tijjani Ibrahim said the visit formed part of the agency’s campaign against the diversion and misuse of humanitarian assistance provided by government and development partners.
He said the agency, in collaboration with UNICEF and the Jigawa State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, had intensified advocacy to curb the illegal diversion and sale of RUTF.
Tijjani stressed that the therapeutic food must reach the severely malnourished children for whom it was intended, rather than being sold in local markets.
“It is estimated that each malnourished child requires a carton of RUTF to survive. If a single carton is diverted, there is the possibility that a life could be lost,” he said.
He added that a rapid survey conducted in states under the UNICEF Kano Field Office comprising Kano, Katsina and Jigawa identified poverty as one of the factors responsible for some parents selling the therapeutic food meant for their children.
