UNICEF Requests N1.2bn for Child Nutrition in Katsina

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has requested that the Katsina State Government allocate N1.2 billion to the Child Nutrition Fund in the 2027 budget to enhance child nutrition efforts. This request was made by Mr. Shafeeq Ur-Rehman, Chief of UNICEF Field Office, Kano, during a courtesy visit to Katsina State Governor Dikko Umaru Radda.

The proposed funding would be matched by UNICEF and is aimed at addressing malnutrition among children and women in the state. It will support the procurement of Multiple Micronutrient Supplements for pregnant women and Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) for children under five suffering from severe wasting.

Ur-Rehman praised the Radda administration for its ongoing contributions to the Child Nutrition Fund and highlighted Katsina's participation in a global pilot of revised WHO guidelines for managing severe wasting in children. Governor Radda committed to including the N1.2 billion request in the state’s budget, acknowledging the financial challenges but emphasizing the importance of improving residents' lives.