A Paediatrician, Prof. Aishat Bolakale, has expressed concerns over the low circulation of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Foods (RUTF) for malnourished children in Nigeria.
Bolakale, raised the concern during the distribution of the therapeutic foods to malnourished children in Ilorin, Kwara on Thursday,
She said that only a fraction of those severely malnourished children had access to RUTF.
“Inspite of the effectiveness of this miracle food, the circulation of RUTF is low, ‘’ she said.
The professor, while delivering a paper titled, “Importance of RUTF in Malnutrition Management”, attributed the challenge to limited government funding, supply of chain inefficiencies, over finance and donor support imports.
She, referencing the United Nations Children Fund , said that an estimated two million children suffered severe forms of malnutrition.
“Only 20 per cent of these children currently have access to treatments they need. Without intervention, we lose over 400,000 children to severe acute malnutrition annually,” she said.
Bolakale described RUTF as an energy-dense, micronutrient-rich paste made primarily from peanuts, oil, sugar, milk powder, and carefully balanced with a mix of vitamins and minerals packaged in small sachets.
“The RUTF does not require refrigeration; it does not require cooking or clean water; making it an ideal intervention for use in any setting from the rural setting all through to the urban setting.
“Studies have shown that up to 90 per cent of children with severe acute malnutrition who have access to be treated by RUTF fully recovers,” she said.
Bolakale, is a Professor of Paediatrics and Child Health of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital.
NAN
