The United Nations Children Fund’s (UNICEF) has lamented that nutrition supplements meant for malnourished children in some communities in Sokoto State are being stolen and sold in the market.
UNICEF’s Chief of Field Office in charge of Sokoto, Kebbi, and Zamfara states, Mr Micheal Juma, expressed concerns over the theft of the items during the quarterly policymakers’ meeting on Wednesday in Sokoto.
Juma, who was represented by Mr Abraham Mahama, noted that the nutrition supplements were provided by donors and distributed to healthcare centers in different communities aimed at enhancing the lives of malnourished children.
He lamented that some bad elements in the system connived with traders and engaged in selling the supplements to unintended persons He stressed that the supplements were openly sold in markets while on investigation at the designated stores, UNICEF discovered that personnel stocked cartons of supplements with stones and other objects to cover their nefarious acts.
Juma urged community members and stakeholders in the healthcare sector to intensify vigilance against the diversion of prepared nutrition supplements in the state. Juma also urged the Sokoto government to join other states in appointing the state’s Statistician General that would fast-track data collection, prudence, preservation, and dissemination in line with modern trends. He highlighted that most of the key indicators in the state portrayed very poor indices such as; antenatal care, immunization, mortality rates, healthcare-seeking behaviors, and social behavioral change.
According to him, indices on healthcare Infrastructures, power, and water supply, competent healthcare workers, and clients not trusting service providers along with others were not encouraging in the state.
In his presentation, the UNICEF Social Protection Specialist, Mr Isa Ibrahim, dwelled on the state’s 2024 Budget performances.
Peoplesmind
