The United Nations Children Fund’s (UNICEF) on Wednesday deplored the alleged diversion of nutrition supplements in some communities in Sokoto State. UNICEF’s Chief of Field Office in charge of Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states, Micheal Juma, expressed concerns during the quarterly policymakers’ meeting on Wednesday in Sokoto. Mr Juma urged community members and stakeholders in the healthcare sector to intensify vigilance against the diversion of prepared nutrition supplements in the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that UNICEF organised the meeting in collaboration with the Sokoto State Government to discuss activities, successes, and challenges and offer solutions to lingering challenges. Mr Juma, who was represented by Abraham Mahama, noted that the nutrition supplements were provided by donors and distributed to healthcare centres in different communities aimed at enhancing the lives of malnourished children. He lamented that some bad elements in the system connived with traders and sold the supplements to unintended persons.
He stressed that the supplements were openly sold in markets. During an investigation at the designated stores, UNICEF discovered that personnel stocked cartons of supplements with stones and other objects to cover their nefarious acts, he said. PREMIUM TIMES delivers fact-based journalism for Nigerians, by Nigerians — and our community of supporters, the readers who donate, make our work possible.
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