The Nigerian government confirms that over four million children in the Northeast and Northwest regions are suffering from malnutrition. At a strategic meeting in Keffi, experts discussed the urgent need for policies to address Nigeria's "triple burden" of malnutrition, aiming to improve health outcomes in the most affected areas.
The Federal Government has raised alarm over the growing malnutrition crisis affecting over four million children in Nigeria's Northeast and Northwest regions. This revelation was made by Mrs. Ladidi Bako-Aiyebusi, Director of the Nutrition Department at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, during a strategic meeting held in Keffi, Nasarawa State.
The five-day event, organized in partnership with Civil Society-Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN) and other stakeholders, aims to develop policies addressing the severe nutrition challenges in the country. Bako-Aiyebusi highlighted that Nigeria faces a "triple burden" of malnutrition, with significant deficiencies in macro and micronutrients, undernutrition, and overnutrition. These issues are driven by factors such as limited access to food, poor feeding practices, and broader socio-economic problems.
The meeting, which gathers experts from various fields, is focused on finding sustainable solutions to improve nutrition and health outcomes, particularly in regions most affected by this crisis. The 2021 National Food Consumption and Micronutrient Survey underscores the gravity of the situation, noting that nearly 4.4 million children are impacted by malnutrition in these regions. The discussions and outcomes from this meeting are expected to guide future policies and actions to combat malnutrition across Nigeria.
