Rising Severe Malnutrition Among Children in North-Eastern Nigeria
A non-governmental organization, FHI 360, has issued a warning about the alarming surge in severe malnutrition cases among children under the age of five in north-eastern Nigeria. Between February and September, FHI 360 reported an overwhelming admission of 15,781 malnourished children to its facilities for treatment, indicating a staggering 160% increase compared to the previous year.
“The situation in north-east Nigeria demands urgent attention, with a pressing need for heightened support to address the critical health and nutritional requirements, particularly for women and children,” the organization emphasized.
According to the UN children’s agency, Unicef, Nigeria has the second-highest rate of child stunting globally, predominantly driven by widespread malnutrition in the northern region of the country. Unicef’s estimations suggest that approximately two million Nigerian children suffer from malnutrition, with only 20% of these children receiving the necessary treatment.
Furthermore, their data reveals that malnutrition is a contributing factor to 45% of the deaths among children under the age of five in Nigeria. Urgent measures are imperative to alleviate the worsening malnutrition crisis and its devastating consequences on the nation’s vulnerable youth.
