The Kaduna State Project Implementation Unit of the World Bank supported Accelerating Nutrition Result in Nigeria project has secured $2.7m (about N1.1bn) for the treatment of malnourished children.
The ANRiN project coordinator in the state, Dr Zainab Muhammad-Idris, made this known in an interview with newsmen in Kaduna on Wednesday.
The disclosed that the project implementation unit has gotten approval from the World Bank to spend $1.5m (about N621.3m) from the total amount in 2022. She said the money would be used to procure 13,758 cartons of Ready to Use Therapeutic Food for the treatment of children with severe acute malnutrition.
According to her, RUTF is an energy-dense, mineral and vitamin-enriched food specifically designed to treat Severe Acute Malnutrition.
She added that part of the money would also be used to procure about 15,416 doses of supportive drugs for the treatment of opportunistic infections and cover logistics support.
She stated, “The World Bank approved funds for treatment of severe acute malnourished children and the Community Management of Acute Malnutrition Programme in Kaduna State is $2.7m, equivalent to N1.1bn at the official exchange rate of N410 to $1.
“Of this amount, $1.5m equivalent to N621.3m has been earmarked for the said intervention by the State ANRiN Project Implementation Unit for the 2022 fiscal year. The remaining amount will be released and used for a similar intervention in 2023.”
According to Muhammad-Idris, the 13,758 cartons of RUTF are expected to reach more than 30,000 malnourished children in 2022. She said the remaining $1.2m would be used for similar efforts in 2023.
