Around 20 million children worldwide are estimated to be suffering from this condition, of which only approximately 10 -15 per cent currently receive treatment using RUTF. UNICEF supports community-based management of acute malnutrition with ready-to-use therapeutic foods (RUTF).
The organization is the primary global procurer of RUTF, therapeutic milk and other essential food products for treating severe acute malnutrition. Properly used, RUTF is safe, cost effective, and has saved hundreds of thousands of children’s lives in recent years. Severe acute malnutrition is a major killer of children under five, accounting for approximately 1 million deaths annually.
I captured the after impact of RUTF in kids at Sokoto, Nigeria.
For UNICEF
SOKOTO, NGA - July 5, 2023: Portrait of Nana Firdausi Umar and her mum; Rashida Umar at Rumbukawa Primary Health Care center, Sokoto state, Nigeria. CREDIT: Taiwo Aina
SOKOTO, NGA - July 3, 2023: Portrait of Hafsat Abubakar and her mum; Sadiya Abubakar in their home at Gidan Igwai, Sokoto North LGA, Nigeria. Hafsat is a 9month old baby, she started her nutrition treatment when she was 7 months old. With visible physical features and a MUAC of 13cm, Hafsat is now discharged. CREDIT: Taiwo Aina
SOKOTO, NGA - July 4, 2023: Portrait of Maryam Musa and her twin children, AsmaÕu Kasimu & Halima Kasimu in their home at Kofar Market, Sokoto North LGA, Nigeria. CREDIT: Taiwo Aina
SOKOTO, NGA - July 5, 2023: Mr Bello Hassan; a nutrition officer takes Nana FirdausiÕs MUAC at Rumbukawa Primary Health Care center, Sokoto state, Nigeria. CREDIT: Taiwo Aina
SOKOTO, NGA - July 5, 2023: Rashida Umar smiles as carries Nana Firdausi at Rumbukawa Primary Health Care center, Sokoto state, Nigeria. CREDIT: Taiwo Aina
SOKOTO, NGA - July 3, 2023: Rachael Samaila, a Unicef nutritionist explains the use of micronutrient powder to Safiya Abubakar; HafsatÕs mother at Gidan Igwai Primary health center, Sokoto North LGA, Nigeria. CREDIT: Taiwo Aina
SOKOTO, NGA - July 6, 2023: Sadiya Abubakar backs Hafsat happily as Hafsat was discharged from the Gidan Igwai Primary health center and heads back home at Sokoto North LGA, Nigeria. CREDIT: Taiwo Aina
SOKOTO, NGA - July 4, 2023: Environmental shot of Hafsat AbubakarÕs home community at Gidan Igwai, Sokoto North LGA, Nigeria. CREDIT: Taiwo Aina
SOKOTO, NGA - July 3, 2023: Wall details at Hafsat AbubakarÕs home at Gidan Igwai, Sokoto North LGA, Nigeria. CREDIT: Taiwo Aina
SOKOTO, NGA - July 3, 2023: Nana Firdausi Umar carried by her uncle in her home at Jiddawa community of Rumbukawa, Sokoto North LGA, Nigeria. CREDIT: Taiwo Aina
SOKOTO, NGA - July 3, 2023: Portrait of Nana Firdausi Umar in her home at Jiddawa community of Rumbukawa, Sokoto North LGA, Nigeria. Nana Firdausi is a 10 month old baby, she started her nutrition treatment when she was 8 months old. With visible physical features and a MUAC of 12.6cm, Nana Firdausi is now discharged. CREDIT: Taiwo Aina
SOKOTO, NGA - July 3, 2023: Nana Firdausi Umar crawls to her mum in their home at Jiddawa community of Rumbukawa, Sokoto North LGA, Nigeria. Nana Firdausi is a 10 month old baby, she started her nutrition treatment when she was 8 months old. With visible physical features and a MUAC of 12.6cm, Nana Firdausi is now discharged. CREDIT: Taiwo Aina
SOKOTO, NGA - July 3, 2023: Nana Firdausi Umar and her mum; Rashida Umar in their home at Jiddawa community of Rumbukawa, Sokoto North LGA, Nigeria. CREDIT: Taiwo Aina
SOKOTO, NGA - July 4, 2023: Maryam Musa holds a phone showing portrait of Asmau Kasimu and her twin in their home at Kofar Marke, Sokoto North LGA, Nigeria. CREDIT: Taiwo Aina
SOKOTO, NGA - July 4, 2023: Asmau mum dresses for her in their home at Kofar Marke, Sokoto North LGA, Nigeria. CREDIT: Taiwo Aina
SOKOTO, NGA - July 4, 2023: Asmau Kasimu & Halima Kasimu play together in their home at Kofar Market, Sokoto North LGA, Nigeria. CREDIT: Taiwo Aina
SOKOTO, NGA - July 4, 2023: Asmau Kasimu and her twin sister playing in their home at Kofar Marke, Sokoto North LGA, Nigeria. CREDIT: Taiwo Aina
SOKOTO, NGA - July 4, 2023: Maryam Musa carries Asmau Kasimu outside their home at Kofar Marke, Sokoto North LGA, Nigeria. CREDIT: Taiwo Aina
SOKOTO, NGA - July 3, 2023: Family portrait of Hafsat Abubakar, her brother; Ismail Abubakar and her mum; Sadiya Abubakar in their home at Gidan Igwai, Sokoto North LGA, Nigeria. CREDIT: Taiwo Aina
SOKOTO, NGA - July 3, 2023: Family portrait of Nana Firdausi Umar, her sisters; her dad and her mum; Rashida Umar in their home at Jiddawa community of Rumbukawa, Sokoto North LGA, Nigeria. CREDIT: Taiwo Aina
SOKOTO, NGA - July 4, 2023: Portrait of Maryam Musa and her twin children, Asmau Kasimu & Halima Kasimu as they play together in their home at Kofar Marke, Sokoto North LGA, Nigeria. CREDIT: Taiwo Aina