By: Monday Danladi, Bauchi
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has declared that People selling the Ready-to-use-Therapeautic Food (RUTF) across the country are committing the criminal offence of felony and would be prosecuted if caught.
The assertion was made on Monday by the UNICEF Representative in Nigeria, Cristian Munduate when She visited sites of Women who are producing local food supplements in Toro LGA of Bauchi State.
She sounded a stern warning against selling RUTF, saying that, “People should know that as you are selling one pack of RUTF, you are killing one child who needs it to stay alive. It is therefore felonious.”
Cristian Munduate stated this in Toro local government area in Bauchi State on Monday while fielding questions from Journalists shortly after inspecting nutrition foods for Nursing mothers and children who are supported by UNICEF.
She said that RUTF are specially prepared for children, particularly children undergoing treatment for severe acute malnutrition (SAM), stressing that selling RUTF is killing a child.
Cristian Munduate stressed that, “The RUTF are medical Therapeutic Foods which are only good for children.I heard that some people are selling them, but I must warn that if adults take these food they may be affected.”
According to her, “I heard, I don’t know whether it is true, that some people believe that if they eat it, they become strong or fertile, I want to say that, that is not true, they may even lose these capacities, because it is for children and not for adults.”
The UNICEF Representative in Nigeria added that, “Everybody needs to speak up whenever they see that the RUTFs are being misused, they should just report.This is a felony, it is a crime and you must know that whenever you sell RUTF, you are killing a child ‘
On the issue of Malnutrition in the state, the UNICEF Country’s Representative said that more than half of the children in the state have problems of chronic malnutrition, particularly in children under the age of five whose brain development has been affected as a result of malnutrition.
“Malnourished children will have problems of learning and intellectual capacity and this is something that has no way to fix. It is important for authorities in the state and the country at large to really do the necessary and take action in reducing chronic malnutrition,” She emphasised.
According to her, “The second issue is the number of Severe Acute malnutrition at the LGA level, these are children under one year of age and they are about to die because they are very sick and need urgent medical attention to remain alive.”
She added that, “What I see is that the people in the community at LGA level do not receive the necessary support like Budgets, but they are still trying.Toro LGA for example is Open defecation Free, but this is done by the efforts of the local authorities and the community, this success is theirs.”
Cristian Munduate stressed that, “We really want authorities at different levels to come in and help the different LGAs in Bauchi state. Right now, we have seen many of the wards in Toro LGA that have a food system that is working.This has helped in the prevention of malnutrition in children and women that are pregnant as well as given prosperity to the community.”
She stated that, “What UNICEF needs is more commitment from government at all levels, UNICEF is only providing support, but we cannot reach everybody.”
“The Nutrition fund needs to be signed in the state so that it can be of benefit to thousands of children. We heard the Governor has shown commitment to the fund which means that if the government puts One Naira, UNICEF will put One Naira for the good of the children,” She said.
Cristian Munduate also visited Dandaure village where She commemded efforts of rural women in producing local food to feed and stay healthy as well as their children especially those U-5.
The community members expressed gratitude for the support from UNICEF which has boosted their efforts in the production of the local food items.
