The United Nations Children’s Fund has raised concerns that nutrition supplements meant for malnourished children in some communities in Sokoto State are being stolen and replaced with stones.
UNICEF’s Chief of Field Office for Sokoto, Kebbi, and Zamfara states, Mr. Micheal Juma, highlighted this issue during a quarterly policymakers’ meeting on Wednesday in Sokoto. Represented by Mr. Abraham Mahama, Juma expressed deep concern over the theft of these vital supplements.
“These nutrition supplements were provided by donors and distributed to healthcare centers in different communities to improve the lives of malnourished children,” Juma explained. He further lamented, “Some bad elements in the system have connived with traders, selling the supplements to unintended persons.”
Juma revealed that the stolen supplements were being openly sold in markets. He added, “Upon investigation at the designated stores, we discovered that personnel had stocked cartons of supplements with stones and other objects to cover their nefarious acts.”
Juma called on community members and stakeholders in the healthcare sector to increase their vigilance to prevent the diversion of these essential nutrition supplements. He also urged the Sokoto State government to appoint a Statistician General, which would help improve data collection, preservation, and dissemination, in line with modern trends.
Juma highlighted that many key health indicators in Sokoto State were poor, including antenatal care, immunization, mortality rates, and healthcare-seeking behaviors. He pointed out that issues like inadequate healthcare infrastructure, unreliable power and water supply, and a lack of trust in healthcare workers contributed to these challenges.
In his presentation, UNICEF Social Protection Specialist, Mr. Isa Ibrahim, discussed Sokoto State’s 2024 budget performance. He noted areas that need alignment, such as the nutrition sector, which received zero allocation, and other areas with high capital expenditure but limited impact on citizens. Ibrahim echoed Juma’s call for the appointment of a Statistician General to improve data management in the state.
The Sokoto State Deputy Governor, Alhaji Idris Gobir, assured maximum support for all donor agencies’ activities, describing the presentations as a wake-up call for government officials to address these issues. Alhaji Balarabe Kadadi, the state Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, emphasized that collaborations with UNICEF and other donors are critical to addressing the state’s challenges.
The meeting, organized by UNICEF in collaboration with the Sokoto State Government, aimed to discuss activities, successes, challenges, and offer solutions to the state’s ongoing challenges.
