Over three million children are affected by severe acute malnutrition in Nigeria.
According to a 2021 Food Consumption and Micronutrients Survey, the prevalence of severe malnutrition in Nigerian children has increased from seven to twelve percent over the last five years and only two-point eight percent of these children received treatment with therapeutic foods due to inadequate access to RUTF.
For this, especially with persistent challenges related to food insecurity, limited access to quality healthcare, and inadequate nutrition interventions, the United States government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development, USAID, in collaboration with the Federal Government of Nigeria and other stakeholders, partnered in a trade fair in Abuja to foster innovation and collaboration to address acute malnutrition
The trade fair tagged “Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Foods, RUTF, and other Life-Saving Nutrition Commodities Expo”, provided a platform for government officials, the donor community, and RUTF manufacturers to discuss challenges, share experiences, network, and explore collaborative opportunities in expanding RUTF programs.
Speaking at the event, USAID Mission Director Dr. Anne Patterson, described the Trade Fair as the much-needed platform for local manufacturers, investors, and other operators in the RUTF and nutrition commodities value chain to display their products and innovations.
She expressed hope that the trade fair would provide a platform to build meaningful relationships that will result in sustainable local access to affordable, lifesaving, nutrition commodities that will help reduce severe malnutrition in Nigeria.
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