Kano Warns Against Sale, Diversion Of Baby Food

The Kano State government has warned against the diversion and sale of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF), saying the commodity is strictly meant for the treatment of malnourished children and not for commercial purposes.

The state’s commissioner for Health, Dr Abubakar Yusuf, gave the warning during a press briefing on the achievements of the administration in the health sector in the last three years.

He said anyone found selling RUTF would be prosecuted, describing the product as government property procured to save the lives of vulnerable children suffering from acute malnutrition.

“RUTF is a specialised nutritional supplement used in the management of severe acute malnutrition among children”, he said.

According to the commissioner, the state government discovered upon assumption of office in 2023 that both RUTF supplies and Centres for Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition (CIMAM) were virtually non-existent in the state.

“When we came in 2023/2024, we noticed the absence of RUTF and CIMAM centres. I left 65 centres when I was commissioner in 2015, but when I returned, none was functioning or even existing.

“We informed His Excellency, and he approved the revival of the centres. Today, we have 95 CIMAM centres across Kano State, and there is no local government without one,” he said.

Dr Yusuf disclosed that Governor Abba Yusuf approved the release of N500 million to UNICEF in November 2024 for the procurement of RUTF, which was matched by the international organisation, resulting in the purchase of the product worth N1 billion.

He said the supplies had been distributed free of charge since 2025, warning that any person found selling or diverting it would face security agencies.

“RUTF is not for sale anywhere. It is stolen government property if you see it being sold. We urge members of the public and journalists to report such cases to the police, DSS or civil defence immediately,” he said.

The commissioner also highlighted other interventions by the state government, particularly efforts aimed at reducing maternal and newborn mortality.

He said the state was confronted with a disturbing maternal mortality situation when the administration came on board, noting that Kano was losing 1,026 women out of every 100,000 deliveries.

Dr Yusuf said the government responded by introducing measures to address the three major delays responsible for maternal deaths — delay in decision-making, transportation challenges and inadequate access to quality healthcare services.

He disclosed that Governor Yusuf had approved the procurement of 484 mini ambulances across the 484 wards in the state to convey pregnant women from communities to health facilities during emergencies.

The commissioner added that 1,018 community-based health workers had been recruited to provide maternal and child health services at ward level, stressing that the workers would serve their respective communities for effective coverage.

He further disclosed that 320 Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) had been rehabilitated and equipped as part of efforts to ensure every ward in the state has access to functional healthcare services.

On newborn health, the commissioner said Kano had recorded challenges with neonatal deaths due to inadequate specialised care.

He however explained that the state government had established neonatal corners in health facilities where newborn babies would be assessed immediately after delivery and provided with necessary interventions.

Dr Yusuf noted that the state government had provided free oxygen services across public hospitals to prevent avoidable deaths among women and children.