The National Orientation Agency has engaged stakeholders in Jigawa to curb the illegal diversion and sale of ready-to-use therapeutic food, which is meant to treat severe acute malnutrition in children.

Speaking during the engagement in Dutse, the state director of the agency, Ahmad Tijjani, said that there was a need to ensure that RUTF reaches severely malnourished children and is not being sold in local markets.

”This forum is being conducted in collaboration with UNICEF and the Jigawa Primary Healthcare Development Agency.

”The engagement with community leaders, health officials, and local stakeholders aims to increase vigilance and ensure that RUTF reaches the malnourished children who need it most, rather than being sold for profit.

“It has been estimated that each malnourished child needs a carton of RUTF to survive, and if one carton is diverted, we have the tendency to lose a life,” he said.

According to him, a rapid survey conducted in states under the UNICEF Kano Field Office, comprising Kano, Katsina and Jigawa, identified poverty as one of the major causes of selling RUTF by some parents of the malnourished children.

In his remarks, the deputy state health educator, Nura Ado, warned adults against consuming the commodity, as it could lead to obesity, which could in turn cause high blood pressure.

(NAN)