The Katsina State Government has committed N1.7 billion to its nutrition programme and related interventions aimed at combating malnutrition, improving child survival and strengthening public health across the state.

Governor Dikko Umaru Radda announced the investment while declaring open a workshop organised by the Nutrition Society of Nigeria (NSN) in Katsina, themed “Strengthening the Role of Nutritionists and Dieticians in the Katsina State Health System.”

Radda described malnutrition as one of the most pressing public health challenges facing the state, noting that its effects extend beyond health to education, productivity, household income and economic development.

According to the governor, the funds will support the State Nutrition Programme and the State Committee on Nutrition to ensure coordinated and sustainable nutrition interventions.

He also revealed that the government had established additional Outpatient Therapeutic Programme (OTP) centres and nine stabilisation centres to provide specialised care for children suffering from severe acute malnutrition.

As part of efforts to improve child survival, Radda said the state released N700 million as counterpart funding for the ARIN Project 2.0, which focuses on reducing malnutrition and improving healthcare outcomes for children.

Highlighting broader health sector reforms, the governor disclosed that his administration had invested N26.7 billion in upgrading and revitalising 268 Primary Health Centres across Katsina. The projects include renovations, provision of motorcycle ambulances, medical equipment, and improvements in water, sanitation and hygiene facilities.

He added that nearly 800 healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, pharmacists and laboratory scientists, had been recruited to strengthen healthcare delivery, while seven comprehensive healthcare centres had been upgraded to general hospitals.

Radda further announced the approval of N950 million for the payment of allowances to Katsina State medical students studying in Nigeria and abroad between 2020 and 2023.

On food security, he said the government had distributed more than 90,000 bags of food items to vulnerable households and supported farmers with improved seedlings, fertilisers and over 400 tractors within the past three years.

The governor stressed that funding and infrastructure alone would not solve the problem of malnutrition, calling for behavioural change, community participation and evidence-based interventions. He urged families to promote exclusive breastfeeding, improve maternal nutrition and make better use of locally available food resources, including indigenous crops such as moringa.

He also called on the Nutrition Society of Nigeria and other stakeholders to intensify research, advocacy and public awareness campaigns to improve nutrition outcomes across the state.

Earlier, the state Statistician-General, Professor Kabir Ibrahim Matazu, described nutrition as a critical investment in human capital development, while Dr. Maimuna Aliyu Ladidi advocated greater investment in nutrition services and professional development for nutritionists and dieticians.

The Chairperson of the Katsina State Nutrition Committee, Hajiya Rukayya Hamza Usman, commended the governor for prioritising health and nutrition, while the Kanwan Katsina, Alhaji Usman Bello, urged stakeholders to strengthen collaboration in the fight against malnutrition.