By Ayomide Otitoju
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has revealed that Nigeria now has the highest number of malnourished children in Africa. The agency disclosed this disturbing statistic on Tuesday, noting that only two out of every ten children affected by severe malnutrition are currently receiving treatment.
According to UNICEF, Nigeria is home to approximately two million children suffering from severe acute malnutrition (SAM), and the country has the second-highest number of stunted children worldwide, with 32 percent of children under five years old affected.
“Malnutrition contributes to 45 percent of all child deaths worldwide,” UNICEF stated, highlighting the dire situation in Nigeria. “Despite ongoing efforts, only 17 percent of babies are exclusively breastfed during the first six months of life, and just 18 percent of children aged six to 23 months receive the minimum acceptable diet.”
UNICEF also noted that the northern states of Nigeria are particularly affected by both stunting and wasting, forms of malnutrition that have long-term implications for cognitive development, educational performance, and economic productivity.
The organization warned that the economic losses from malnutrition in Nigeria could account for up to 11 percent of the country’s GDP, emphasizing the urgency of addressing the issue. It called for greater access to nutrition services for women, children, and adolescents, especially in vulnerable regions.
