Nigeria Has Highest Number Of Children Threatened By Malnutrition In The World—UNICEF

The United Nations agency responsible for providing humanitarian and developmental aid to children worldwide, UNICEF,  has ranked Nigeria as the country with the highest burden of malnutrition in Africa and the second highest in the world.

The agency in a report that analyzed  91 countries, including Nigeria, disclosed that one out of every three children in the country  is stunted and one of every ten children is wasted due to not eating the right food combinations..

The report finds that the covid-19 pandemic is affecting how families feed their children as it has disrupted essential services and thrown most families into poverty.

“Close to 17 million Nigerian children are undernourished , meaning they are not getting the food or nutrients they need to thrive and grow well, leading to irreversible developmental harm.

“The findings of the report are clear: millions of young children are not being fed diets adequate for their growth and development,” said Rushnan Murtaza, UNICEF Nigeria Deputy Representative.

The UN health department also said  insufficient intake of nutrients to support growth at an early age puts children at risk of poor brain development, weak learning, low immunity, increased infections and, potentially, death.

“Poor nutritional intake in the first two years of life can harm children’s rapidly growing bodies and brains, impacting their futures. Now more than ever, with the ongoing COVID-19 disruptions, we need to reimagine a food system that improves the diets of young children, including in Nigeria.” 

The  report further suggests that Nigeria is off- track to achieve second SDGs goal : Zero Hunger by 2030 but advised that government  and its partners can change the trajectory by working “ hand-in-hand to Increase the availability and affordability of nutritious foods  including fruits, vegetables, eggs, fish ,meat and fortified foods – by incentivizing their production, distribution and retailing.

“Implementing national standards and legislation to protect young children from unhealthy processed and ultra-processed foods and beverages, and to end harmful marketing practices targeting children and families.

“Increasing the desirability of nutritious and safe foods through multiple communication channels including digital media to reach parents and children with easy to understand, coherent information.”