Acute Malnutrition: 910 children die, 46,687 treated
By Abdallah el-Kurebe

Acute malnutrition in Sokoto state has claimed lives of a total of 910 children while 46,687 were treated in nine local government areas (LGAs).

The Community Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) programme has been in operation in the nine LGAs since 2010.

The CMAM report, presented at a campaign launched by the Sokoto state Nutrition Officer, Alhaji Mohammed Hamza Ali reveals that a total of 141,086 were identified, 82,051 admitted and 11,098 defaulted of Acute Malnutrition in Binji, Gudu, Gada, Goronyo, Illela, Tangaza, Wamakko, Sabon-Birni and Sokoto South local government areas.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health in the state, Dr. Buhari Bello Kware disclosed the success of the programme has made the state government to provide for the procurement of Ready-To-Use-Food (RTUF) in the 2015 appropriation.

He added that RTUF provision would complement supplies from UNICEF, especially because the CMAM programme had been accepted by the people who were now queuing in to participate.

Lamenting that “the people have been suffering in silence because acute malnutrition was given different negative names owing to ignorance,” Dr. Kware expressed appreciation for the contributions of development partners.

Babafunke Fagbemi of the Center for Communication Programs in Nigeria (CCPN) said that the campaign was an attempt “to promote positive action to help our malnourished children to access services that could provide treatment.”