The Katsina State Government, in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has organised a planning meeting on the Standardized Monitoring and Assessment of Relief and Transition (SMART).
The meeting, held at the Hillside Royal Suites in Katsina, was aimed at sensitising key stakeholders—including the 34 local government chairmen—on preparations for the 2025 Nutrition SMART Survey.
Speaking at the meeting the Executive Secretary of the Katsina State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. Shamsuddeen Yahaya described the survey as an important searchlight for the government to ascertain the magnitude of the malnutrition crisis with the aim of providing immediate solutions, noting that the state government has committed to prevention and treatment of malnutrition across all the 34 local government areas.
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He reaffirmed the commitment of the state’s administration in prioritising healthcare delivery, especially primary healthcare and the welfare of children
Dr. Yahaya disclosed that the state government in collaboration with the UNICEF had committed N1 billion into the state’s health sector to address the prevailing malnutrition crisis in the state.
“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”, he said.
The Executive Secretary added that the state government under the Dikko Radda led administration had established Outpatient Therapautic Points in some local government areas of the state to improve child nutrition.
Yahaya, listed the local government areas as Daura, Mai’adua, Zango, Baure, Sandamu among others.
He pointed out that the government has also developed a multi-sectoral plan of action, comprising immediate, intermediate and long-term solutions to the malnutrition crisis in the state.
“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.” He added.
The UNICEF Nutrition Specialist, Kano field office, Mr. Oluniyi Oyedokun, underscored the signifance of the meeting in sensitizing major and critical stakeholders toward addressing malnutrition crisis. 
“Today is very significant milestone for UNICEF by participating in this planning meeting for 2025 nutrition SMART Survey for Katsina state in which Katsina State government is taking the leadership in the conduct of the exercise”, Oyedokun stated.
In attendance at the SMART meeting were various stakeholders and partners in supporting nutrition and child welfare
The participants included the state’s 34 Local Government Chairmen, Local Government PHC Directors and different partners, like ALIMA, PUI, INC among other partners and stakeholders to support the conduct of the meeting.