The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), in collaboration with the Katsina State Government, has commenced a Standardised Monitoring and Assessment of Relief Transitions (SMART) Survey to gather reliable data aimed at tackling the increasing rate of malnutrition in the state.
The SMART Survey will measure the prevalence of wasting, stunting, and underweight among children aged six to 59 months. It will also provide a framework for collecting and analysing data on acute malnutrition, mortality rates, and other critical health indicators.
Speaking during a 2025 SMART planning meeting with stakeholders on Tuesday in Katsina, UNICEF Nutrition Specialist, Mr. Niyi Oyedokun, revealed that UNICEF was contributing over $100,000 to the nutrition project, with the state government providing a matching grant. The initiative is supported through funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
The Executive Secretary of the Katsina State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. Shamsudeen Yahaya, disclosed that the state government had allocated about ₦500 million to combat malnutrition. The funds will be used to procure Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) for malnourished children, as well as to support other treatment services.
Dr. Yahaya explained that the survey would help identify the scale and geographical spread of malnutrition across all 34 local government areas of the state. He also issued a stern warning to healthcare workers and caregivers reportedly diverting RUTF for sale instead of administering it to children in need, stating that such actions would be met with legal consequences. Security personnel, he said, would be deployed to curb the diversion of the supplements.
Also speaking, nutritionist Mr. Nura Shehu stressed that malnutrition is a local challenge that requires locally driven solutions. He noted that while various nutritious foods are available in communities, many residents lack adequate knowledge of how to properly utilise them.