The United Nations Children Fund’s (UNICEF) has lamented that nutrition supplements meant for malnourished children in some communities in Sokoto State are being stolen and sold in the market.
UNICEF’s Chief of Field Office in charge of Sokoto, Kebbi, and Zamfara states, Micheal Juma, expressed concerns over the theft of the items during the quarterly policymakers’ meeting on Wednesday in Sokoto.
Juma, who was represented by Abraham Mahama, noted that the nutrition supplements were provided by donors and distributed to healthcare centers in different communities aimed at enhancing the lives of malnourished children.
He lamented that some bad elements in the system connived with traders and engaged in selling the supplements to unintended persons He stressed that the supplements were openly sold in markets while on investigation at the designated stores, UNICEF discovered that personnel stocked cartons of supplements with stones and other objects to cover their nefarious acts.
Juma urged community members and stakeholders in the healthcare sector to intensify vigilance against the diversion of prepared nutrition supplements in the state.
Juma also urged the Sokoto government to join other states in appointing the State’s Statistician General that would fast-track data collection, prudence, preservation, and dissemination in line with modern trends.
Earlier, the Sokoto State Deputy Governor, Alhaji Idris Gobir, assured the government maximum support to all donor agencies activities describing the presentations as an awakening call to government officials to amend anomalies.
The meeting was organised by UNICEF, in collaboration with the Sokoto State Government, to discuss activities, successes, challenges and offer solutions to lingering challenges.
