‘Nigeria records highest malnutrition cases in Africa’

The Federal Government and Nutrition International have said that Nigeria is battling with the highest malnutrition cases in Africa, with over 17 million malnourished children. This was disclosed by the duo of FG and NI during a meeting convened to disseminate the findings of the home fortification implementation research using Small Quantity Lipid-based Nutrient Supplements (SQLNS), which was held in Abuja. The Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, while speaking at the meeting, said malnutrition had remained a major significant public health challenge despite huge investments made to contain the issue.

The Minister, who was represented by the Director, Health and Nutrition, Federal Ministry of Health, Dr. Binyerem Ukaire, said the major underlying causes of malnutrition in Nigeria include but not limited to poor infant and young child feeding practices, poor access to and consumption of safe nutritious diet rich in both macro and micronutrients, inadequate access to healthcare, water, and sanitation, and a high level of poverty. “The Federal Government of Nigeria has made concerted efforts, in collaboration with development partners, to reduce the burden of malnutrition in the country”, he said. The Country Director of NI Nigeria, Dr. Osita Okonkwo, while also speaking at the event, said malnutrition is not just a chronic problem, it had become a national problem that requires urgent attention by relevant authorities.

Presenting the summary of the findings, Okonkwo said the implementation fidelity of the project was high with appropriate targeting of poor and underprivileged households with under-five children as beneficiaries and appropriateness of the intervention context. He also mentioned that caregivers’ perception had gained improvement with increasing duration of the intervention and acceptability of the Metabolic Nutrition Programme (MNPs) by the children and caregivers is generally on the high side, adding that key drivers of adherence include perceived improvements in health, appetite, strength, and physical growth of index children benefits.

He recommended that Integrated Community Outreach Clinics have demonstrable potential, capacity, and acceptability to distribute MNP and other nutrition commodities. However, he noted that supervision and logistic supply needed to be strengthened to ensure the teams deliver the commodity according to plan. “Similarly, improved engagement with other stakeholders such as community gatekeepers and household heads can increase acceptability and utilisation of MNP in households”, he stated further.