The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) has announced that over N4 billion is required to curb severe acute malnutrition (SAM) in Adamawa, Yobe and Bornu states by 2020.
Aminu Usman, Nutrition Specialist, UNICEF, speaking at the media dialogue titled “integrated and timely response to nutrition related humanitarian crisis” in Borno state, said that there is need for an urgent response to tackle malnutrition in Nigeria as the affected community coping mechanism over the years has remained low.
He further stressed that there is need for a robust contigency plan to absorb any shock in the affected areas as nutrition sector report has estimated that 258,950 children will be affected by severe acute malnutrition in 2020.
“There is a gap of N4.4 billion needed to necessitate the procurement of ready to use therapeutic food for severe acute malnutrition treatment in Adamawa, Yobe and Borno states”.
Usman further urged the government to ensure increased funding to meet the nutritional needs of the citizens especially the internally displaced (IDPs)persons as there had been an influx of IDPs which further exacerbate the already poor nutrition situation in the country.
Olumide Osanyinpeju, Deputy director and head, child rights information bureau, federal ministry of Information and culture in his remark noted that a large number of Nigerian children are still at risk of deprivations of basic social amenities of which nutrition is inclusive especially in the Northern rural and hard-to-reach communities.
He said “Nigeria’s future depends on producing children who are well prepared to take their place in tomorrow’s society. However, most unfortunately, majority of these children are also living in conflict, and communities under emergencies, and it has been difficult taking indeed all basic amenities to them”.
“This, therefore, calls to mind the need for us to specifically address malnutrition in children because it directly impacts on their survival and development. There is need for investing in child malnutrition for the future, raising awareness and understanding on the problem of malnutrition in Nigeria and resource allocation for food and nutrition security at all levels”.
It is imperative to combat Malnutrition, because it can cause death in young children, particularly those under five years of age. There should be concerted effort to fight malnutrition out in totality to ensure the attainment of desired results.
Osanyinpeju speaking further said that ensuring improved nutrition is critical to creating improved national and human development adding that nutrition is one of the ways through which sustainable development goals can be achieved.
“Adequate investment in nutrition will help reduce the negative trend of malnutrition and tackle the issue of stunting, wasting and obesity to its minimal level”, he said.
He further commended UNICEF for their contributions and partnership with the Federal Government in promoting the wellbeing of Nigerian children.
“We commend UNICEF for all activities being carried out to ensure that malnutrition is curbed and Nigerian children receive the proper nutrition they need to keep them healthy and grow into well-formed adults capable of driving the affairs of the nation”.
Abigail Nyukuri, nutrition specialist said that poor food security, sub-optimal water, as well as poor water hygiene and sanitation has further fueled poor nutrition in Nigeria.
“Malnutrition is an emergency situation in Nigeria, we need an integrated approach from all sectors to tackle this emergency”.
“Malnutrition has led to almost 50 percent death in children, hgh rate mortality, irreversible brain damage and compromised intellectual capacity in adulthood as well as over 16 percent loss of the nation’s gross domestic product”.
Cynthia Egboboh, Abuja.
