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Add to Preferred SourcesThe United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) on Wednesday said Nigeria requires $85.5 million to address malnutrition of about two million children in dire need of treatment.
The treatment of a malnourished child with Ready-To-Use-Therapeutic-Food (RUTF) would span through eight to 12 weeks, depending on the severity of the condition. At least $71 will adequately treat a severely acute malnourished child.
“Malnutrition is an emergency that required multi-sectoral approach and collaborative efforts of government and donor agencies, among others. No child should be left to die and government at all levels should act by setting aside budget line geared toward the purchase of RUTF and other nutrition interventions. There should be specific budget line at the Ministries of Health, Agriculture, Education and Budget and National Planning, among others, and timely releases of such funds,” UNICEF Nutrition Specialist, Bauchi Zone, Mrs. Philomena Irene.
UNICEF Nutrition Specialist said out of the 2.5 million malnourished children in the country only 500,000 have so far been treated. The interventions provided by UNICEF include prevention and treatment.
The collaborative efforts of government agencies will go a long way to address the existing nutrition gap of two million children in dire need of special interventions including RUTF.
Source: The Nation. Read full article here.
18 May, 2017