Katsina State launches nutrition survey and commits N500m to fight malnutrition

The Katsina State Government has launched the 2026 SMART Nutrition Survey to collect data for improving nutrition interventions for children and women. According to Prof. Saifullahi Sani, the Statistician-General of the Katsina State Bureau of Statistics, the survey aims to address high levels of stunting and underweight among children, despite a recent decline in Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) rates.

To support these efforts, Governor Dikko Radda has committed N500 million as a matching contribution to the Child Nutrition Fund. This follows a UNICEF appeal for N1.2 billion to strengthen health services and nutrition programs. The funds are intended for micronutrient supplements for expectant mothers and therapeutic products for children suffering from severe wasting.

Katsina is currently participating in a global trial testing updated World Health Organization protocols for managing acute wasting in children. The state has also expanded its medical infrastructure, increasing the number of Outpatient Therapeutic Programme sites from 147 to 332 and doubling its stabilisation centres since 2024.