The Aliko Dangote Foundation has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), with the Kano state government to spend over N50 million in procuring Ready To Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF), for the treatment of children with Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM), in the state.
The Managing Director of the Foundation, Zouera Yusufu stated this at the signing ceremony of the MOU, held at Nasarawa Specialist Hospital, Kano state north Western Nigeria.
According to UNICEF, Kano state has 2 million malnurished children under the age of 5, with about 1.8 million of them having stuncted growth.
The nutrition intervention will be carried out under the Aliko Dangote Foundation Integrated Nutrition, ADFIN project.
Yusufu said, there was the need to end the scourge of malnutrition and the signing of the MoU takes the partners close to achieving the goal.
“Based on this, we are now making unprecedented investment to improve nutrition in our country because the first 1,000 days in the life of child is very important.
“The Ready To Use Therapeutic Food, RUTF will be produced by a company based in Kano and extended to each household of the vulnerable children.
“To do this, we have trained a first cohort of Community Active Mobilizers, CAM who will help identify the vulnerable children and refer them for treatment,” she said.
She also said the ADFIN programme which is beginning in Kano state will to take off in 13 out of the 44 LGAs in the State and planned to be extend to 13 other states in the northern part of the country.
She urged other partners with requisite knowledge on nutrition to join hands with the foundation to achieve the set objectives, because it cannot be done alone.
“We however solicit for other partners with expertise to join hands with us to achieve a robust and sustainable solutions,” she added.
Yusufu said the Dangote Foundation is already feeding over 30,000 children daily in Kano with local nutrient based foods for healthy growth, which has boost supply chain of markets and created employment for many.
The Aliko Dangote Foundation revolves it’s activities around nutrition, education and empowerment.
The Kano State Commissioner of Health, Dr. Aminu Ibrahim Tsanyawa who describe the intervention as a milestone commended the foundation for investing heavily towards improving the health and well-being of people of the state, especially children.
“We are ready to support any initiative towards achieving the desired goal of reversing malnutrition indices of the state,” he said.
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