From Aidoghie Paulinus, Abuja
The European Union (EU) has allocated N900million to fight malnutrition in nine states in the Northern region of Nigeria. The states are Adamawa, Benue, Borno, Katsina, Niger, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, and Zamfara. The disclosure was made by a delegation of the European Union to Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), in a statement made available to Saturday Sun in Abuja.
The amount, the EU said, is specifically meant for emergency assistance to children and mothers suffering from severe acute malnutrition in the North East. The EU also said the allocation was in response to the alarming levels of malnutrition in the North East of the country.
“In response to the alarming levels of malnutrition in north eastern Nigeria, the European Union (EU) is allocating €500,000 (over N900 million) in humanitarian aid to provide emergency assistance to children and mothers suffering from severe acute malnutrition.
“This funding will enable the Nigeria Red Cross Society to assist approximately 170,000 households affected by or at risk of malnutrition in the northern states of Adamawa, Benue, Borno, Katsina, Niger, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, and Zamfara.
“The aid will specifically support lifesaving activities for over 30,000 children in urgent need of treatment. Community outreach and screening will be integrated with outpatient care for uncomplicated severe cases using ready-to-use therapeutic food while the most complex cases will be referred to health centres for specialised care, all in accordance with national health protocols.
“The Red Cross will expand its health and nutrition interventions while contributing to improving the medium-term resilience of the affected families and intensifying efforts in water, protection, sanitation and hygiene,” the EU said.