The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has issued a dire warning about the escalating child malnutrition crisis in Kano State, revealing that 51.9% of children suffer from stunting due to chronic undernutrition.
The alarming statistic was disclosed by UNICEF’s Chief of Field Office in Kano, Mr. Rahma Farah, during the handover of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) in Takai Local Government Area, facilitated through the Government–UNICEF Child Nutrition Match Fund initiative.
Represented by Dr. Serekeberehan Deres, Health Manager at the Kano Field Office, Farah highlighted the severity of the crisis, noting that one in every two children in Kano is stunted, impairing their growth and development.
Additionally, over 10% of children are wasted—severely underweight for their height, often due to acute weight loss.
“Wasting significantly heightens the risk of mortality if not addressed urgently,” Farah cautioned, describing child malnutrition as a critical public health emergency requiring immediate action.
Farah urged stakeholders to prioritize investments in nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive interventions, particularly within the first 1,000 days of a child’s life.
He called for collaborative efforts from government, civil society, and religious and traditional leaders to enhance access to nutrition services, education, clean water, and healthcare.
“Investing in child nutrition is one of the most cost-effective strategies for national development,” he emphasized.In response, Kano State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran, reaffirmed the state’s commitment to tackling malnutrition.
He highlighted recent initiatives, including new maternal and child health programs, and pledged sustained partnership with UNICEF and other stakeholders to reduce malnutrition rates and improve child survival and development outcomes.
The malnutrition crisis remains a significant contributor to child mortality and poor educational outcomes in Nigeria, with the northern region bearing the brunt of the challenge.
UNICEF’s latest intervention, supported by the state government, aims to provide critical relief while addressing the root causes of this persistent issue.
Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
No comments
Post a Comment
Kindly drop a comment below.
(Comments are moderated. Clean comments will be approved immediately)
Advert Enquires - Reach out to us at NigerianEye@gmail.com