The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has raised alarm over the growing crisis of child malnutrition in Nigeria, revealing that about 2.9 million children across the country are currently suffering from Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM).
The Country Representative of UNICEF, Mrs Cristian Munduate, made the disclosure on Monday, May 19, during the official handover of 40,000 cartons of ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) in Ilorin, Kwara State.
She warned that the affected children require urgent hospital care to avert fatal consequences.
“From our records, 2.9 million children in Nigeria are suffering from Acute Severe Malnutrition,” she said. “This obviously is not a good development. So it’s my considered opinion that the affected children should be immediately taken to the hospital for urgent medical attention to prevent untimely death.”
Munduate noted that over 40 percent of children in Kwara are also affected by malnutrition, calling for swift interventions.
She revealed that UNICEF and the Kwara State Government had each contributed $100,000 into the Child Nutrition Fund, a platform aimed at supporting states ready to co-finance the procurement of RUTF for vulnerable children.
According to her, “UNICEF introduced the child nutrition fund to boost investment in policies and programmes. UNICEF is committed to partnering with the state of Kwara to combat malnutrition, particularly during the first 1,000 days of life.
“The challenge of over 40 percent of children being stunted and nearly 300,000 children affected by wasting requires urgent attention to address these issues.”
She identified poverty, climate change, food insecurity, and conflict as key drivers of severe malnutrition in the country.
Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof Jubril Shaaba Mamman, said the state joined the UNICEF Child Nutrition Fund to change the poor nutrition statistics in the region.
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“UNICEF offered a platform called the child nutrition fund, where the organization will partner with any state government that is ready to pay at least $100,000 to provide RUTF for malnourished children.
“This partnership has resulted in the procurement of RUTF, which we are here today to officially receive from UNICEF.
“Our partnership with UNICEF is not just a collaboration but a strong mission to uphold the fundamental rights of women and children. And we will continue to make major advances towards improving child health and nutrition.
“This nutrition commodity is designed to restore health to sick children and give them the hope of a brighter and productive future.
“I want to appeal to parents with malnourished children to take them to health facilities to enjoy the RUTF.
“I also want to challenge our health providers to ensure these food commodities are expertly dispensed and judiciously utilized. I urge us all to prioritize our health and the health of our children for our individual well-being and for the prosperity of our nation.”
Also speaking at the event, Professor Aisha Bolakale of Pediatrics and Child Health at the University of Ilorin described the situation as one of the worst nutrition crises globally.
“Tragically, only about 20 percent of the affected children currently receive the treatment they need in the country,” she said.
“According to UNICEF and the National Bureau of Statistics, over 35 million Nigerian children under five are malnourished. An estimated two million of these children suffer from severe acute malnutrition (SAM) every year.
“Without intervention, up to 400,000 children with SAM die annually , more than 1,000 deaths per day. These are not just numbers. They represent our future , the next generation of Nigerian doctors, engineers, educators, and leaders. Yet, many will never have the chance to grow, thrive, or even survive.”