The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has revealed that Nigeria has the highest number of malnourished children in Africa
UNICEF new report revealed that two million children in Nigeria suffer from severe acute malnutrition (SAM), making the country home to the second-highest number of stunted children globally.
The agency noted that only two out of every 10 affected children currently receive treatment.
The report stated that 32 percent of children under five in Nigeria are stunted, with northern states bearing the brunt of the malnutrition crisis. It also highlights that seven percent of women of childbearing age are acutely malnourished.
Malnutrition is cited as a direct or underlying cause of 45 percent of all child deaths under the age of five. UNICEF also noted that exclusive breastfeeding rates have remained stagnant over the past decade, with only 17 percent of babies being exclusively breastfed during their first six months of life.
Furthermore, just 18 percent of children aged six to 23 months receive the minimum acceptable diet.
The report warns that the high rates of malnutrition present significant public health and development challenges, contributing to economic losses estimated to amount to as much as 11 percent of Nigeria’s GDP. UNICEF is working to improve access to nutrition services and information, especially in vulnerable areas.
