Opinion
By Barrister Chinedu Moghalu
NIGERIA is currently facing a significant malnutrition crisis that affects millions of children across the country. According to the National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), approximately 37% of children under five in Northern Nigeria are stunted, reflecting chronic malnutrition, while 7% suffer from wasting, an indicator of acute malnutrition. Recent UNICEF reports indicate that about 2 million children suffer from severe acute malnutrition (SAM), with 40% of these cases concentrated in six states. Additionally, over 6 million children are moderately malnourished, and many women, especially those who are pregnant and lactating, suffer from micronutrient deficiencies. The projection that 26.5 million Nigerians will be food insecure in 2024 underscores the urgency of our response.
Underlying Causes and Challenges
The malnutrition crisis in Nigeria is driven by governance inefficiencies, widespread poverty, insecurity, and climate change, which disrupt food production and distribution. Rapid population growth and high dependency ratios strain resources, making it challenging to ensure adequate nutrition for all. Compounding this are poor feeding practices and cultural misconceptions about nutrition further exacerbate the problem; and gender inequality which limits women’s access to education, employment, and resources, impacting their ability to provide adequate nutrition. Other issues include poor access to healthcare due to inadequate infrastructure and products; inadequate social protection systems; and insecurity, especially in the North, which displaces communities and leads to food insecurity.
Government Commitment and Policy Interventions
Pursuant to President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which aims to foster a prosperous and healthy Nigeria, and aligned with the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Initiative (NHSRII), the government has been tackling this issue head-on. This commitment aims to improve the quality of healthcare, ensure food security, and promote social well-being and economic stability. Recent meetings on solving malnutrition in Nigeria, held on June 6, June 14, and July 2 with clear action paths underscored this unwavering commitment to addressing the crisis.
“The malnutrition crisis we face is a symptom of deeper, systemic issues that have developed over decades,” said Hon. CMHSW Muhammad Ali Pate. “We are committed to not just addressing the symptoms but tackling the root causes to create a healthier future for all Nigerians.”
And the response in the health sector has been robust. The government has mobilized 1.3 million doses of multiple micronutrient supplements for pregnant women, expected to arrive by mid-July. To strengthen the primary healthcare system, more than N12 billion has been approved for primary healthcare centers across the country. These funds, part of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF), will help ensure that centers are equipped to handle malnutrition cases effectively. The government is also working with state governments through the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) to allocate resources for revitalizing primary healthcare, focusing on states like Kebbi, Katsina, and Niger that have yet to receive their allocations. Coordination with State Primary Health Care Development Boards (SPHCDB) will be essential to this effort.
Equitable Distribution of Resources
A key principle of the approach is the equitable distribution of available resources across the entire country, not just the most affected areas. This ensures that all children, regardless of their location, have access to the necessary nutrition support. Equitable distribution will prevent the exacerbation of regional disparities and ensure a comprehensive national response to malnutrition.
Comprehensive and Coordinated Approaches: SWAp
Addressing malnutrition requires a comprehensive “whole-of-government” and “whole-of-society” approach involving all sectors of government and society leveraging the Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp) as approved by Mr. President last December. This includes coordinated efforts across health, education, agriculture, social protection, and environmental protection sectors. The pivotal role of the Presidency, particularly through the Office of the Vice President, in championing and coordinating these efforts at the highest level of government, cannot be overstated. Already, the Compact signed among all government and non-government stakeholders is gaining strong traction for consolidated delivery of the NHSRII pillars.
At a recent dialogue titled “Malnutrition Surge in Northern Nigeria: Addressing a Looming Humanitarian Crisis,” co-hosted by the Hon. CMHSW and the Athena Centre for Policy and Leadership, the necessity of coordinated action at the state level was emphasized. Key commitments from the dialogue included data integration, state-level actions, and local capacity building to strengthen intervention programs and ensure sustainability.
The role of agencies such as UNICEF, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), the World Bank, the World Food Programme (WFP), the International Rescue Committee (IRC), and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), among others, has been critical and immensely helpful in the fight against malnutrition. Their support and expertise align with the path being taken to address the crises in a holistic and more sustainable manner. The potential to immediately unlock $30 million from the World Bank’s Accelerating Nutrition Results in Nigeria (ANRIN) project, with a potential 1:1 match from the Child Nutrition Fund, represents a significant step forward in scaling up the response.
Conclusion and Way Forward
The urgency of addressing malnutrition in Nigeria cannot be overstated. An estimated $912 million annually is required to comprehensively scale up nutrition-specific interventions. Timely implementation and effective tracking are essential to ensure that resources reach those in need and achieve the desired impact. This demands the concerted effort of all stakeholders, including private sector actors and foundations such as the Dangote Foundation, to achieving significant progress in reducing malnutrition. Commitment to actionable steps and continuous collaboration can save lives, reduce suffering, and improve health outcomes across the country.
Barrister Chinedu Moghalu
Senior Special Adviser to the Hon CMHSW
on Strategic Communication, Stakeholder Engagement, and Advocacy
A.I
July 06, 2024 @ 18:44 GMT
Tags: Barrister Chinedu Moghalu
