The Kebbi State chapter of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, has criticised the state government’s dismissal of a report by Médecins Sans Frontières, MSF, also known as Doctors Without Borders, on malnutrition and child mortality in the state.
Reacting to the development in a statement issued on Saturday by the Deputy Publicity Secretary of the party, Abubakar Atiku Musa, the ADC accused the government of rejecting the report without presenting verifiable evidence or independent data to support its position.
The opposition party said the government should have responded to the report with facts and statistics rather than outright denial, stressing that residents of the state deserve to know the true situation regarding malnutrition and child mortality.
According to the ADC, if the state government possesses evidence that contradicts the findings of the humanitarian organisation, it should make such information public through verified data from relevant health authorities, research institutions or independent experts.
The party questioned why the government was challenging the credibility of MSF despite previously working with the organisation and acknowledging its humanitarian interventions in the state.
It also recalled that Governor Nasir Idris had in the past commended the organisation’s efforts and urged officials to ensure relief materials meant for vulnerable residents were not diverted.
The ADC further demanded clarity on the state’s statistics relating to malnutrition, child mortality and the condition of healthcare facilities across Kebbi.
Among other issues, the party called on the government to disclose the proportion of the state’s health budget allocated to tackling malnutrition and
