Kano State Allocates Over N637 Million for Child Nutrition Fund to Tackle Malnutrition

The Kano State Government has approved a total of over N637 million for the Child Nutrition Fund (CNF), releasing N500 million in counterpart funding as part of efforts to combat child malnutrition. This allocation is a crucial step in scaling up sustainable financing, programs, and supplies aimed at addressing the rising rates of malnutrition in the state.

The CNF is designed to support countries with high levels of child malnutrition by matching government investments to accelerate efforts in preventing, detecting, and treating malnutrition. According to the 2023/24 National Demographic Health Survey (NDHS), Kano mirrors Nigeria’s national malnutrition crisis, with 51.9% of children under five being stunted, 38.4% underweight, and 10.4% suffering from wasting.

Mr. Sunday Okoronkwo, Executive Secretary of the Civil Society Scaling-Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN), highlighted the impact of malnutrition on child development. “These alarming statistics represent lives affected by malnutrition, which hinders growth, weakens immunity, and reduces future productivity,” he explained.

The CNF is expected to double the state’s stock of essential nutrition commodities, such as Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Foods (RUTF), Multiple Micronutrient Supplements (MMS), Micronutrient Powder (MNP), and Small-Quantity Lipid-Based Nutrient Supplements (SQ-LNS), all crucial for treating, managing, and preventing malnutrition.

Okoronkwo acknowledged the contributions of advocacy organizations like Alive & Thrive, UNICEF, and others in securing the funding. He also commended the Kano State Government for its commitment to addressing malnutrition but emphasized the importance of timely and increased funding releases to support the effective implementation of the state’s Food and Nutrition Strategy.