UNICEF Warns Against Selling RUTF, Says It’s Felony

Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Representative in Nigeria, Cristian Munduate, has warned against selling Ready-To-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF), saying it is felony.

Cristian Munduate gave the warning Monday in Toro Local Government Area of Bauchi State while fielding questions from journalists shortly after inspecting nutrition foods for nursing mothers and children who are supported by UNICEF.

She said that RUTF are specially prepared for children, particularly children undergoing treatment for malnutrition, stressing that selling RUTF is killing a child.

According to her, “The RUTF are medical therapeutic foods that are only good for children. I heard that some people are selling them, but I must warn that if adults take this food they may be affected.

“I heard – I don’t know whether it is true – that some people believe that if they eat it, they become strong or fertile. I want to say it is not true; they may even lose these capacities, because it is for children and not for adults.

“Everybody needs to speak up whenever they see that the RUTFs are being misused; they should just report. This is a felony, it is a crime and you must know that whenever you sell RUTF, you are killing a child.”

On the issue of malnutrition in the state, the UNICEF Country Representative said more than half of the children in the states have problems of chronic malnutrition, particularly in children under the age of five whose brain development has been affected as a result of malnutrition.

“Malnourished children will have problems of learning and intellectual capacity and this is something that has no way to fix. It is important for authorities in the state and the country at large to really do the necessary and take action in reducing chronic malnutrition.

“The second issue is the number of severe Acute malnutrition at the LGA level, these are children under one year of age and they are about to die because they are very sick.

“What I see is that the people in the community at LGA level do not receive the necessary support like budgets. But they are still trying. Toro LGA for example is open defecation free. But this is done by the efforts of the local authorities and the community, this success is theirs.

“We really want authorities at different levels to come in and help the different LGAs in Bauchi Right now. We have seen many of the wards in Toro LGA that have a food system that is working. This has helped in the prevention of malnutrition in children and women that are pregnant as well as given prosperity to the community.

“What UNICEF needs is more commitment from government at all levels, UNICEF is only providing support, but we cannot reach everybody. The Nutrition fund needs to be signed in the state so that it can be of benefit to thousands of children.

“We heard the governor has shown commitment to the fund which means that if the government puts one Naira, UNICEF will put one Naira.”