The Jigawa State Government has trained 600 women on how to make local Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF). This training is part of efforts to reduce the high number of malnourished children in the state.

Governor Umar Namadi spoke during the graduation of the women in Dutse. He said he was not happy that the number of malnourished children in the state keeps increasing, even though the government tries every year to reduce the problem.

He said the state spends more than N250 million every year to buy RUTF. These special foods are used to treat children with severe malnutrition at health centers across the state.

The governor added that reports from the health ministry often show improvement, but Jigawa still has one of the highest numbers of stunted children in Nigeria, even with all the money being spent.

To help solve the problem, the state started using a food mix called Tom Brown. It is already accepted in other parts of the country and is now used in Jigawa to treat children with moderate malnutrition.

Tom Brown, also known as Kwashpap, is made from local ingredients like millet, groundnut, and soybeans. It has been proven to help manage moderate malnutrition in children.

The governor said this plan is part of a bigger nutrition strategy for the state. It is already showing results. The 2024 National Demographic and Health Survey shows that the number of stunted children in Jigawa has dropped from 64% in 2018 to about 55%.

Dr. Habib Muhammad Ubale, who heads the Economic and Youth Employment Agency, said the women were trained to use local food items that support healthy growth in children.