Adequate funding can help recover 3% of GDP lost to malnutrition- Expert

Malnutrition costs countries up to 3% of their Gross Domestic Product (GDP) annually, according to the Global Nutrition Report. This highlights that investing in nutrition is more than a health issue, it’s a vital economic growth strategy.

At the launch of a First 1,000 Days campaign in Yola, experts warned that neglecting maternal and child nutrition quietly damages national productivity, shrinks the workforce, and raises public health expenses.

The period from conception to a child’s second birthday was described as the most critical window for developing human capital. Stakeholders noted that investments during this time directly impact cognitive development, school success, and lifetime earnings.

Nuzhat Rafique, UNICEF Bauchi’s Chief of Field Office, stressed that malnutrition is not just a humanitarian problem but also a macroeconomic issue.

“Investing in nutrition is both a health and economic imperative,” she said, citing data indicating that every dollar invested can yield up to sixteen dollars in benefits through better health, education, and productivity,”

She urged health workers and community leaders to lead awareness efforts that eliminate harmful practices and promote six months of exclusive breastfeeding.

The Global Nutrition Report estimates that the economic burden of malnutrition, about 2 to 3% of GDP annually, this is due to reduced labour output, higher healthcare costs, and poorer learning outcomes.

In developing nations, where demographic growth should boost the economy, undernutrition weakens the future competitiveness of the true workforce.

Health experts highlighted that 45% of child deaths are linked to poor nutrition, with undernourished children experiencing weaker immunity, recurrent infections, stunting, and cognitive delays. These issues cause long-term declines in productivity and lower lifetime earnings.

Participants at the event urged governments to treat nutrition spending as an investment in human development rather than merely recurring social costs.

They called for increased budgets, stronger primary healthcare, and wider access to micronutrient-rich diets, maternal services, immunisations, and exclusive breastfeeding programs.

With rising food prices and economic pressures tightening public finances, experts argued that scaling up proven nutrition interventions is one of the most cost-effective ways to protect future GDP growth.

As nations seek ways to boost development and resilience, nutrition advocates emphasise that reversing avoidable GDP losses begins with investing in the first 1,000 days of a child’s life.