The federal government reveals alarming statistics showing that 40 percent of Nigerian children are suffering from stunting due to malnutrition.
Prof. Ngozi Nnam, Chairperson of the National Nutrition Technical Working Group (NNTWG) at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, has expressed concern over the rise in child stunting rates from 37 percent to 40 percent.
The government attributed the recent figure to an increasing rate of malnutrition in the country.
On Thursday in Abuja, Nnam addressed attendees at a two-day meeting organized in collaboration with FHI360/Alive and Thrive. The focus of the gathering was to assess progress on Nigeria’s health sector nutrition priorities aimed at reducing malnutrition.
FHI 360 Alive/Thrive is a notable participant in the NNTWG.
She conveyed her concern about the situation by stating, “We’ve moved backward rather than forward. This isn’t a positive development, and we are committed to tackling this issue head-on. Our aim is for the next report to reflect substantial progress.”
Nnam stressed the critical importance of joint efforts to address the growing malnutrition crisis, highlighting its particularly devastating effects on children.
She credited many of the setbacks to the prolonged impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, which disrupted food production, social security, and childcare systems.
She stated that insufficient funding and inadequate support systems have exacerbated the situation.
She stated, “The COVID era disrupted many aspects of life, so it’s unsurprising that our malnutrition rates haven’t improved. This trend was observed worldwide.”
She emphasized the importance of forming a consortium to examine the long-term impacts of the pandemic on malnutrition and food security, aiming specifically at enhancing child health outcomes.
Although there are challenges at present, Nnam remains hopeful. He believes that with effective strategies and strong collaborations, Nigeria can address the alarming malnutrition rate.
Peoplesmind
