Recent headlines have painted a grim picture of Katsina State: “Over 650 children die from malnutrition in six months”. According to Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), 652 children lost their lives between January and June 2025, while thousands more were admitted for severe acute malnutrition. It’s a humanitarian emergency that has shocked the conscience of the nation.
But what many of these reports and commentaries fail to mention—an omission that is both unfair and misleading—is that the Katsina State Government has been waging an aggressive, multi-front battle against malnutrition long before this surge in cases. By focusing solely on the tragedy, without acknowledging the state’s extensive response, a large portion of the media is offering the public only half the story.
At the heart of the current effort is a ₦1 billion joint commitment between the Katsina State Government and UNICEF, with each party contributing ₦500 million. This unprecedented fund is being deployed to scale up prevention and treatment services, ensure therapeutic food supply, and strengthen community nutrition programmes.
Treatment access has been expanded through Outpatient Therapeutic Points (OTPs) in high-risk local government areas such as Daura, Mai’Adua, Zango, Baure, and Sandamu. These centres provide ready-to-use therapeutic food, medical care, and close monitoring for severely malnourished children.
The state, in partnership with UNICEF, is conducting a SMART (Standardized Monitoring and Assessment of Relief and Transition) survey across all 34 LGAs. This will identify precise malnutrition patterns, guiding targeted interventions. Importantly, nutrition funding has grown steadily—₦400 million in 2023, ₦600 million in 2024, and now ₦1 billion in 2025—signalling the government’s increasing commitment.
Governor Dikko Umaru Radda’s administration understands that malnutrition is not just a health crisis; it is a socio-economic challenge linked to insecurity, poverty, and food scarcity. The response therefore extends well beyond the clinic walls:
Security operations have been intensified in key farming areas to allow displaced farmers to return to their land. Safe farming corridors are being established so that planting and harvesting can proceed without disruption.
Through the Ministry of Agriculture and the Fadama programme, farmers are supported with seeds, fertilisers, and training in growing nutrient-rich crops such as legumes, vegetables, and fortified grains. Irrigation schemes are being expanded to ensure food production all year round.
Under the KT-CARES initiative and other social protection schemes, vulnerable households receive cash transfers and food packages to diversify their diets. Women and youth empowerment schemes are helping families start small businesses in food processing and market gardening, increasing both income and household nutrition.
Borehole projects are expanding access to clean water in rural communities, reducing diarrhoeal diseases that worsen malnutrition.
Statewide campaigns, often led by community health workers, teach mothers and caregivers the principles of balanced diets, exclusive breastfeeding, and proper child feeding practices.
In response to reports that Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) was being resold in markets, the government issued strong warnings and brought in security personnel to safeguard supplies for the children who need them most.
It is undeniable that the rising malnutrition figures in Katsina are alarming, and the humanitarian urgency is real. But leaving out the government’s extensive, coordinated, and well-funded interventions paints an incomplete—and ultimately inaccurate—picture. Responsible journalism should not only report the problem but also inform the public of the solutions being implemented.
Katsina’s fight against malnutrition is not a passive response to bad press. It is a sustained, multi-sectoral strategy aimed at saving lives today while preventing future crises. By coupling emergency care with long-term measures in agriculture, security, social protection, and public health, the state is not just reacting—it is building resilience.
In the end, this is more than a story about loss; it is also a story about leadership, collaboration, and the determination to ensure that the children of Katsina grow up healthy, nourished, and full of hope.
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