Katsina State Governor, Dr Dikko Radda, has warned against the diversion of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF), locally known as Dan kwamaso, meant for children with malnutrition in the state.

Radda gave the warning on Tuesday while receiving final report of a Special Committee on Malnutrition set up last month to investigate the prevalence and causes of malnutrition in the state.

The governor said the state government had received disturbing reports of such malpractice, warning that any staff or health personnel found guilty would face sanctions.

“We cannot afford to compromise when it comes to saving the lives of our children. Anyone caught diverting or tampering with these life-saving supplies will be dealt with decisively,” he said.

Governor Radda also said his administration would establish Outpatient Therapeutic Programme (OTP) centres across all 34 Local Government Areas of the state.

These centres, he said, will provide timely and specialised care for children suffering from malnutrition, bringing life-saving support closer to families and communities.

He directed the State Primary Healthcare Agency to engage stakeholders and prepare cost implications for establishment of the OTP Centres, and revitalisation of the stabilisation centres to meet minimum requirements for infrastructure, equipment and human resources.

He further announced the approval for the release of 90,000 bags of grain, which were purchased last year for emergency use.

He said the grains would be delivered to the most vulnerable households identified by the Special Committee on Malnutrition.

He added that to ensure fairness and accountability, the same committee would oversee the distribution process of the grains.

Radda commended the committee for producing a report that revealed the scale of the malnutrition challenge and for its practical recommendations, which would guide government action.

Earlier, the Chairman of the committee, Dr. Ahmed Filin-Samji, said it uncovered high rates of stunting, wasting, and underweight among children, even as he painted a grim picture of malnutrition across the state.

Filin-Samji said the committee also discovered cases of RUTF supply diversion, weakness in supply chain management, and widespread social vulnerabilities.

He added that nearly half of the households surveyed were found to be living below the minimum expenditure basket, leaving them highly prone to hunger and malnutrition.

He recommended that the state strengthen its food supply chain, sanction those guilty of diverting food meant for children, and prioritise grain distribution to households suffering the most.

He also called for intensified advocacy on exclusive breastfeeding as one of the fastest ways to reduce child malnutrition, among other recommendations.