The First Lady of Jigawa State, Hadiza Umar Namadi, has raised concerns over the increasing diversion and illegal sale of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) meant for the treatment of severely malnourished children in the state.
She made the observation while receiving the Jigawa State Director of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Ahmad Tijjani Ibrahim, during a courtesy visit at the Government House in Dutse.
Mrs. Namadi explained that RUTF is a critical medical nutrition product supplied by the state government in collaboration with development partners to treat children suffering from severe acute malnutrition.
According to her, the therapeutic product, which is intended to save the lives of vulnerable children, is increasingly being diverted and sold in markets, shops and even in private homes.
She emphasised that the product is not an ordinary food item but a lifesaving medical intervention that must remain free and accessible to children who urgently need it.
The First Lady therefore called on mothers, community leaders and other stakeholders to work together to end the illegal diversion and sale of the commodity.
She urged residents to report anyone involved in the practice, warning that such actions could deprive malnourished children of the treatment required to save their lives.
Mrs. Namadi also cautioned that continued diversion of the product could discourage development partners from sustaining their support for nutrition programmes in the state.
Earlier, Ibrahim explained that the visit formed part of the agency’s campaign against the diversion and misuse of humanitarian assistance provided by the government and development partners.
He noted that the NOA, in collaboration with UNICEF and the Jigawa State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, has intensified advocacy campaigns aimed at curbing the illegal sale and diversion of RUTF across the state.
