By Tasi’u Jibo Dawanau
The Kano State Government (KNSG) has issued a strong warning against the diversion and misuse of Plumpy’Nut and school bags meant for beneficiaries in Dambatta Local Government Area.
The government disclosed that it spends approximately ₦500 million annually as counterpart funding for the provision of Plumpy’Nut, aimed at improving the health of children suffering from malnutrition across the state.
It further warned that any health official found guilty of diverting the nutritional supplements, as well as any teacher caught selling school bags provided by UNICEF to pupils, will face strict disciplinary action.
The State Director of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) and Coordinator of the State Emergency Intervention on the diversion of aid supplies—including Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF)—Malam Nura Liman, made this known through his representative, Balarabe Yusuf Sani. He spoke during a stakeholders’ engagement held at the Dambatta District Head’s Palace.
Sani expressed concern over the attitude of some nursing mothers who divert Plumpy’Nut meant for malnourished children, urging stakeholders to intensify community sensitization efforts to address the issue.
In her remarks, the Director of Special Assignments at the State Ministry of Information and Internal Affairs, Hajiya Halima Ahmed Ishaq, advised nursing mothers to use the supplements appropriately and ensure they are administered to the intended beneficiaries.
Also speaking, the Local Government Primary Health Care Coordinator, Danjuma Abdulhamid, disclosed that five distribution centres—Dambatta East, Gwaram-Maje, Gwanda, Sansan, and Kore—have been designated for the collection of Plumpy’Nut in the area.
The District Head of Dambatta, Sarkin Bai of Kano, Dr. Mansur Mukhtar, represented by his secretary, Malam Umar Abubakar Musa, pledged the support of traditional institutions in curbing the diversion. He assured that traditional leaders, religious clerics, and community development associations would collaborate to report any cases to the appropriate authorities for prompt action.
