The Nigerian Government has disclosed that over four million children in the Northeast and Northwest regions of the country are malnourished.
Mrs Ladidi Bako-Aiyebusi, the Director of the Nutrition Department in the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, shared this information on Wednesday at a five-day meeting with nutrition experts and stakeholders in the Keffi local government area of Nasarawa State.
She said the meeting, attended by nutrition experts, academia, and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), would provide policy directions to guide nutrition issues in Nigeria.
Bako-Aiyebusi stated that Nigeria is currently facing a severe crisis of triple burden of malnutrition demonstrated by widespread deficiencies in both macro and micronutrients, as well as problems related to both undernutrition and overnutrition, all of which have significant effects on health and socio-economic development.
“In addition, the 2021 National Food Consumption and Micronutrient Survey report shows that nearly 4.4 million children in the Northeast and Northwest regions are malnourished.
“Identified causes of malnutrition include inadequate access to food, poor food consumption, improper feeding and caring practices, economic and political structures, low economic status, inadequate health-seeking behaviours and low level of education among the populace,” she said.
