…Says N1bn nutrition intervention being undermined by illegal trade
The Yobe State Government has raised the alarm over the alleged diversion of life-saving nutritional supplements meant for severely malnourished children, claiming that some of the products are being smuggled into neighbouring countries and used to fatten livestock.
The state described the practice as a grave betrayal of public trust that is frustrating efforts to tackle child malnutrition and endangering the lives of vulnerable children.
The Executive Secretary of the Yobe State Primary Healthcare Management Board, Dr Babagana Kundi Machina, made the allegation on Thursday during a stakeholders’ meeting with security agencies in Damaturu convened to address the illegal sale and diversion of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF).
According to Machina, the therapeutic food, specially produced for children suffering from severe acute malnutrition, is increasingly finding its way into illegal markets instead of reaching intended beneficiaries.
“Some of these commodities are smuggled into neighbouring countries and fed to animals to fatten them, while our children are starving and dying,” he said.
He described the diversion as more than an economic crime, warning that it poses serious public health and national security threats.
Machina disclosed that the Yobe State Government had released N500 million this year as counterpart funding for nutrition commodities, while the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) matched the amount with another N500 million, bringing the total intervention to N1 billion.
He, however, lamented that the huge investment by the government and development partners was being undermined by criminal networks diverting the products.
“Government and development partners are investing huge resources to fight malnutrition, but these efforts are being undermined by diversion,” he said.
The health official appealed to security agencies to intensify surveillance, track down those involved and dismantle networks responsible for the illegal trade.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Yobe State House of Assembly Committee on Health, Kachalla Ajiya Maina, alleged that cartons of the therapeutic food were being smuggled into neighbouring Niger Republic.
Maina recalled that while serving as Director of Primary Health Care in Bade Local Government between 2013 and 2018, he led an operation that recovered large quantities of the nutrition supplements from a suspect’s residence.
He claimed that the suspect later turned out to be politically connected and that he was subsequently transferred after the operation.
According to the lawmaker, the diversion syndicate comprises transporters, traders and some health workers who allegedly collaborate to steal and sell the products meant for malnourished children.
He called for stricter monitoring of the supply chain, increased community vigilance and tougher sanctions against anyone found diverting therapeutic food intended for children battling severe acute malnutrition.
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