Hardship: Nigerian Govt Confirms Over 4m Children Malnourished In Northeast, Northwest

The Federal Government has confirmed that over four million children in the Northeast and Northwest regions are malnourished.

Mrs Ladidi Bako-Aiyebusi, the Director of Nutrition Department in the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, made this known on Wednesday at a five-day meeting with nutrition experts and stakeholders in Keffi local government area of Nasarawa State.

NAN reports that the ministry is holding the meeting in partnership with Civil Society-Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN) and other nutrition partners on a strategic advocacy policy for nutrition in Nigeria.

The meeting, which started on Tuesday, is expected to end on Saturday.

Those participating in the meeting are nutrition experts, academia, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) among others.

In her opening remarks, Bako-Aiyebusi said the meeting would provide policy directions to guide nutrition issues in Nigeria.

She added that currently, Nigeria faces a severe crisis of triple burden of malnutrition, evidenced by widespread macro and micronutrient deficiency, undernutrition and overnutrition with significant impact on health and socio-economic development.

“In addition, the 2021 National Food Consumption and Micronutrient Survey report shows that nearly 4.4 million children in the Northeast and Northwest regions are malnourished.

“Identified causes of malnutrition include inadequate access to food, poor food consumption, improper feeding and caring practices, economic and political structures, low economic status, inadequate health-seeking behaviors and low level of education among the populace,” she said.