1.6m Children Suffer From Acute Malnutrition – UNICEF

Over 1.6 million children in Kaduna State, north west Nigeria are reported to be suffering from acute malnutrition.

This statistic was released recently by the kaduna State Action Plan on Malnutrition in conjunction with the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF).

According to experts, malnutrition is responsible for the death of 50 per cent of children under five years old in the state.

They say although malnutrition-related deaths are preventable, coverage and quality of treatment as well as adequate food intake are lacking.

Political, economic and cultural beliefs are some of the other causative factors that were also identified.

Through the Kaduna State Emergency Action Plan on malnutrition in collaboration with UNICEF, the wife of the governor, Mrs Ummi El-Rufai, however noted that a task force has been put in place with the sole purpose of ensuring that the disturbing statistic is reversed through concrete actions to provide food for the vulnerable.

Also addressing the issue, the Governor, Nasir El-Rufai stated that the Kaduna State government has taken steps to address issues of hunger and starvation.

He announced that his administration has committed over 300 million Naira to taking care of 50,000 malnourished children.

Observers however, say this figure is undoubtedly a far cry from the 1.6 million children who need support from government, organisations and other well-meaning citizens to get out of their bad situation.