The Healing and Zakat Foundation (HAZ) has carried out a house-to-house mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) screening to identify malnourished children in Samunaka area of Gusau, Zamfara State.
The exercise, conducted on today (Wednesday), focused on children aged six months to five years. The HAZ team worked with community members to screen households and identify children in need of urgent care.
Children found to be malnourished were immediately supported with transport fare to health facilities, full medical coverage, food items, and nutrition packages for their families.
Speaking on the initiative, HAZ Program Manager, Abubakar Lawal Yuguda, said the house-to-house approach was designed to reach the most vulnerable children. He explained that the foundation goes beyond screening by ensuring treatment and follow-up.
“We are not just screening; we are providing a safety net. We pay for transport, cover medical bills, and support families with food and nutrition to aid recovery,” he said.
Abubakar added that follow-up is key, especially in Zamfara where access to healthcare is limited and malnutrition remains a serious challenge.
He also praised the Zamfara State Primary Health Care Board for its support, as well as partners including the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), UNICEF, and the World Health Organization (WHO), noting that their collaboration has helped reach children in hard-to-reach communities.
The village head of Samunaka, Isah Buhari, welcomed the intervention, describing it as life-saving. He assured the foundation of the community’s full support in mobilizing residents and granting access to households.
One of the beneficiaries, Safara’u Ashafa, mother of a 10-month-old child identified with malnutrition, expressed gratitude for the support. She said the assistance came at a critical time when she could not afford transport to the hospital.
“I am happy they came to our doorstep. The referral and transport money mean a lot to me. My child’s condition was getting worse,” she said, thanking HAZ for giving her hope for her child’s recovery.
