By Abdullahi Shugaba, in Katsina
The Director of National Orientation Agency (NOA), Katsina State Agency Directorate, Alhaji Haruna Ibrahim has urged stakeholders and members of the public to set their eyes on all Aids like vaccines, medicines, ready- to use Therapeutic food (RUTFRUTF) and school materials provided to their communities by UNICEF to ensure that they are not sold or diverted by unpatriotic citizens.
Ibrahim who gave the charge in Katsina during a press conference in Katsina noted that aids provided by UNICEF are free of charge and are life- saving materials, not for sale.
“As partners, we urged stakeholders, civil society organisations and members of the general public to rise up to the challenge and ensure that aids provided by UNICEF in their communities are not sold or diverted”
“The National Orientation Agency in Katsin a State will also mobilise and sensitize the general public against these ugly trends”
“We will Promote zero tolerance for diversion and sales of materials provided by UNICEF in various communities across the state” the Director maintained.
Earlier in a remark, the UNICEF Focal Person, Alhaji Hussaini Saleh said that the main objective of meeting is to Strengthen WDC-led accountability mechanisms in aids provided to communities by UNICEF.
Saleh advanced other reasons including facility-level visibility of anti-diversion and promotion of accountability to affected population (AAP) and the expected outcomes.
He said others were to increase public awareness of reporting mechanisms for diversion cases and to strengthen perception that humanitarian supplies are life-saving and not tradable commodities.
He said the aim of the meeting was to improve accountability between communities and service providers and to be aware that RUTFRUTF stands for Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food which is a high-calorie, nutrient-dense food designed to treat severe acute malnutrition (SAM) in children and, sometimes, in adults.
According to him, RUTFs are typically peanut-based pastes enriched with vitamins and minerals, requiring no cooking or refrigeration, making them ideal for use in resource-limited settings.
The Focal Person explained food are used primarily in community-based management of malnutrition, allowing quick and effective nutritional rehabilitation.
“Children that USE RUTFChildren who need Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) are typically those suffering from severe acute malnutrition (SAM).
These children often exhibit significant weight loss, extremely low mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC), visible wasting, or clinical signs like edema” he added”
According to him, they are usually between 6 months and 5 years old, stressing that, though older children with SAM may also require RUTF.
Saleh said these children are often found in settings experiencing food insecurity, poverty, or health crises, where access to adequate nutrition is limited.
According to the Focal Person, RUTF provides a vital, easy-to-administer nutritional boost to help promote recovery and prevent mortality in these vulnerable populations.
He said that effectiveness of RUTF can facilitate quick weight gain and nutritional restoration within weeks
He stressed that palatability and portability enable treatment at home, reducing the need for inpatient care.
He maintained that the taste and texture are generally well accepted by children for Cost-effective, compared to inpatient treatments emphasing that RUTF offers a cost-effective solution for large-scale malnutrition management.
The Focal Person said said that investigations and studies have revealed that RUTF is highly effective in reducing mortality and morbidity rates associated with severe acute malnutrition.
He pointed out that the overall goal of the campaign is to discourage the diversion of aid supplies and to Sensitize the public that government and partners are aware of the challenges and they are taking measures to address the problem.
He drew public’s attention to the fact that buying and selling of humanitarian supplies is immoral, illegal, reprehensible and condemnable.
He said partners and security agencies will be at alert to nip the incessant sales, stealing and diversion of aids to communities in bud.
He said that diversion of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food) occurs in different dimensions occurs due to theft or black-market driven by high demand and monetary value.
“In some cases, individuals or groups might divert RUTF to sell illegally or to use it for purposes other than intended, which can undermine efforts to treat malnourished children”
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“Equally, lack of proper security measures in place and oversight in distribution channels can contribute to diversion”
“Addressing these issues entails collective efforts and strict monitoring, and creating awareness about the importance of these aids to ensure it reaches the target audience” the Focal said.l
