With hunger pang rife across the globe, indications are that over 500 million of the population stand the risk of malnutrition in 2030, according to the latest State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) report published by five United Nations specialised agencies, recently.
An estimated 733 million people faced hunger in 2023, equivalent to one in eleven people globally and one in five in Africa.
The annual report, launched this year in the context of the G20 Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty Task Force Ministerial Meeting in Brazil, warns that the world is falling significantly short of achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2, Zero Hunger, by 2030.
The report shows that the world has been set back 15 years, with levels of undernourishment comparable to those in 2008-2009.
Despite some progress in specific areas such as stunting and exclusive breastfeeding, an alarming number of people continue to face food insecurity and malnutrition as global hunger levels have plateaued for three consecutive years, with between 713 and 757 million people undernourished in 2023—approximately 152 million more than in 2019 when considering the mid-range (733 million).
Regional trends vary significantly: the percentage of the population facing hunger continues to rise in Africa (20.4 percent), remains stable in Asia (8.1 percent)—though still representing a significant challenge as the region is home to more than half of those facing hunger worldwide —and shows progress in Latin America (6.2 percent). From 2022 to 2023, hunger increased in Western Asia, the Caribbean, and most African subregions.
If current trends continue, about 582 million people will be chronically undernourished in 2030, half of them in Africa, warn the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the UN World Food Programme (WFP), and the World Health Organization (WHO). This projection closely resembles the levels seen in 2015 when the Sustainable Development Goals were adopted, marking a concerning stagnation in progress.
The report highlights that access to adequate food remains elusive for billions. In 2023, around 2.33 billion people globally faced moderate or severe food insecurity, a number that has not changed significantly since the sharp upturn in 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Among those, over 864 million people experienced severe food insecurity, going without food for an entire day or more at times.
This number has remained stubbornly high since 2020 and while Latin America shows improvement, broader challenges persist, especially in Africa where 58 percent of the population is moderately or severely food insecure.
The lack of economic access to healthy diets also remains a critical issue, affecting over one-third of the global population. With new food price data and methodological improvements, the publication reveals that over 2.8 billion people were unable to afford a healthy diet in 2022.
This disparity is most pronounced in low-income countries, where 71.5 percent of the population cannot afford a healthy diet, compared to 6.3 percent in high-income countries. Notably, the number dropped below pre-pandemic levels in Asia and in Northern America and Europe, while it increased substantially in Africa.
While progress has been made in increasing exclusive breastfeeding rates among infants to 48%, achieving global nutrition targets will be a challenge. Low birthweight prevalence has stagnated around 15%, and stunting among children under five, while declining to 22.3%, still falls short of achieving targets.
Additionally, the prevalence of wasting among children has not seen significant improvement while anaemia in women aged 15 to 49 years has increased.
Besides, new estimates of adult obesity show a steady increase over the last decade, from 12.1 percent (2012) to 15.8 percent (2022).
Projections indicate that by 2030, the world will have more than 1.2 billion obese adults. The double burden of malnutrition – the co-existence of undernutrition together with overweight and obesity – has also surged globally across all age groups. Thinness and underweight have declined in the last two decades, while obesity has risen sharply.
These trends underscore the complex challenges of malnutrition in all its forms and the urgent need for targeted interventions as the world is not on track to reach any of the seven global nutrition targets by 2030, the five agencies indicate.
This year’s report’s theme “Financing to end hunger, food insecurity and all forms of malnutrition”, emphasises that achieving SDG 2 Zero Hunger requires a multi-faceted approach, including transforming and strengthening agrifood systems, addressing inequalities, and ensuring affordable and accessible healthy diets for all. It calls for increased and more cost-effective financing, with a clear and standardised definition of financing for food security and nutrition.
Nigeria has had a history of paying little attention to the children/youth and women. In theory, there is always the rhetoric about women and children but in real practice, little is done by all tiers of government, local, state and federal governments to address in concrete and consistent terms the issues that concern that vulnerable group. The results can be seen all over the development indices across the length and breadth of the country.
With a population of more than 200million, the country has more than 133million living in multi-dimensional poverty. It has one of the highest out-of-school children at more than 20million and counting given the dire economic climate. There is record unemployment and double digit inflation. Over the past few years, insurgency, Boko Haram, banditry, farmer/herders conflicts and other socially repugnant activities have impacted the food security in the country.
The Northern part of the country has the land mass and farming population that have over the years provided for the country and some for exports. However, due to a number of factors, the agrarian North has seemingly lost its capacity to produce to capacity and the whole country is suffering the effects. Farmers in the North are finding it very difficult to do their jobs as banditry especially in the North West has become a very huge problem.
The loss to the social menace of banditry and other security breaches in the North West has resulted in less productivity in the agricultural sector as farmers continue to stay away from their farms to avoid being kidnapped, killed or asked to pay ransom to be able to even work for the bandits who in some areas like Zamfara and Kaduna seize their lands from them. The implications of this are diverse but the most overwhelming is the fact that a huge number of under-fives, the demographic at most risk of the effects of malnutrition and women who birth and nurture them are either chronically malnourished, physically/mentally retarded dead or dying due to chronic malnutrition.
The human resources of any nation is unarguably the most priced so nations that are developed have functional systems that nurture its citizens to be maximally productive. Part of the plan includes investing in health, education and shelter as basics. Under healthcare, nutrition and reproductive health take prime positions. This is because like one who expects bumper harvest, the seeds planted must have manure and water to grow and flourish.
The United Nations Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF), claims that about 6 million children aged 0-59 months in North West and North East Nigeria are likely suffering and expected to suffer acute malnutrition from May 2022-April 2023. This includes 1,623,130 Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) cases and 4, 308,404 Moderate Malnutrition (MAM) cases as at November 2022. Since the statistics, the situation has worsened as physical and food insecurity has negatively impacted families not just in the northern region of Nigeria but across the country.
Generally, about 6.5% of children in Nigeria under five years experience wasting, this according to UNICEF is above the global average of 4.6%. 31.5%experience stunting which is above the global average of 19.9%. UNICEF, the World Food Programme (WFP) and Medicins Sans Frontiers (MSF) all agree that malnutrition in the Northern region must be tackled to save generations of children and by implication their mothers who go through reproductive phases that require their being well-nourished.
From all indications, the number of malnourished children especially in the North is almost equal to the population of some countries. The implication is that there would be an impact on the population. Some might die and even those who survive could be battling with some developmental challenges that would impair their productive capacity. In processing issues of child-malnutrition, a lot of developmental variables surface. We look at the causative factors which must be carefully sorted if there must be progress. Poverty and illiteracy are core causes of malnutrition. Poor, illiterate parents are in a more disadvantaged position to raise healthy well-fed children. Information and availability of funds are needed for young women who become mothers to be well-nourished through feeding, they must be aware and have the nutrients available.
In most cases, young malnourished mothers would most likely not survive the rigors of pregnancies/delivery and even if they do, the chances of giving birth to healthy children and nurturing them past the age of five is subject to a lot of factors; what disposable income is available, what foods are available, what information does the mother who is the primary care giver have about nutrition and hygiene? How concerned are the tiers of government to make those basic requirements available?
It is in the light of the above implications of chronic malnutrition in the Northern Nigeria that the Roundtable Conversation joined in the dialogue on, “Malnutrition Surge in Northern Nigeria: Addressing a Looming Humanitarian Crisis”, hosted by the Chancellor of Anthena Center for Policy and Leadership, the former Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel Abuja on Thursday.
The Roundtable Conversation spoke with Osita Chidoka and asked him why he thought such a conversation is necessary at this time. He pointed out that the people are the pillars that hold any country and as such their welfare must be rooted in sound health, mind and body must be a priority for all tiers of government. To him, the children are the future of any nation and must be fully nurtured to develop the country. In his estimation, he thought that starting the conversation is a good step towards addressing what he feels needs an emergency action.
The North West/North Central parts of the country unarguably used to produce the bulk of the food Nigerians in all regions consume in large quantities. The number of malnourished children and women in the region is to him an ill-wind that blows no one any good. The human resource must be well-nourished, developed and educated for maximum productivity to be achieved. He believes that beyond every other thing, a healthy mind in a healthy body must be the goal of any nation and he feels that the country must not wholly depend on development agencies and global institutions to supply the country with data, funds and statistics before actions can be taken.
To him, the Minister of Health, Mohammed Ali Pate showed passion and leadership in rallying some of the state governors like that of Zamfara, Dr. Dauda Lawal, Niger, Mohammed Umaru Bago, Kebbi, Jigawa, Kebbi and Katsina sent representatives. The ministers of Agriculture, Senator Abubakar Kyari sent a representative seeing that the issue of nutrition is rooted in agriculture and its ancillary products.
The health minister told the audience the inter-ministerial and agency collaborations aimed at tackling the health challenges especially the emergency situation caused by malnutrition which of course is a culmination of factors over time and therefore would need a lot of strategizing and collaborations being addressed by the Tinubu government. Osita Chidoka maintained that the serious collaboration of governors, the health, agriculture and defense ministries must work together with other relevant agencies to create a conducive, accountable and dedicated attitude if the region must address the issue of chronic malnutrition.
He believes that as a nation, we must look inwards and identify the strengths of each regionand invest in the strengths of each region. The inter-dependence of the constituent regions would flourish the moment the country addresses the fundamentals of systemic functionality. Each regional bloc must work on its areas of comparative advantage for the success of the nation. The Northern region to him has the land mass for agriculture and so the issue of malnutrition is a paradoxical misnomer. It must be addressed by all stakeholders in ways that each group can be assisted and held to account for functionality. He cited the example of Singapore stating that because of the cost of water production to the country, they rely on Malaysia and as such makes sure the relationship is mutually beneficial and functional.
The governors of Zamfara and Niger states, Dauda Lawal and Mohammed Umaru Bago were impressive in their presentations. The governor of Niger was proud of the fact that the state with its massive land mass was investing seriously in agriculture through mechanized farming. It remains however for the federal government to tap into the advantages of the state. The Zamfara security challenge that has been scaring farmers away must be holistically addressed in a state known for its agricultural production and solid minerals.
The Roundtable Conversation believes that the issue of malnutrition in the country must be treated as an emergency so that the country doesn’t end up with a generation of Nigerians that are stunted mentally and physically. Beyond the inter-ministerial, agency and state government collaborations, there are pertinent issues that must be addressed too. There must be more inclusiveness in governments at all levels. The women who are the nurturers must be educated. An illiterate mother has a higher chance of being blind to nutritional requirements of herself and her children.
Child marriages must be discouraged. Sierra Leone has just passed a law banning child marriages. Nigeria has one of the highest numbers of child brides in the world. A child cannot raise a child. The Northern governors must collaborate with the traditional and religious leaders to educate the populace. No development comes to any nation where women are not empowered with education. It will amount to winking at a woman in the dark to make all the official efforts then leave out the women who are the hands that rock the cradle. That is a challenge the Roundtable Conversation would want the various state governors and the National assembly to address. Chronic malnutrition decimates a nation’s population the likes of which are only seen during wars. Nigeria cannot afford to fail her children.
• Experts list affordable protein sources for children
• Fish, meat prices skyrocketing inflation – NBS
Following the rising costs of food items, poultry, meat, and dairy food in particular, many indigent parents have had to cut off or drastically reduce the quantity and quality of the food they give to their children. INNOCENT DURU examines the implications for growing children and how parents can circumvent the challenges.
Paul, a security man and father of two earns N28,000 as salary every month. Prior to this time, he could manage to buy fish or meat for the family to cook and keep life going. But with prices of proteinous food items going up every day, he has found it difficult to make provisions for his family as he had managed to do in the past.
“I can’t afford to buy fish or meat like I used to. How much am I earning as salary that I would buy just one fish for more than N3,000? Shawa fish that people were not eating before have become gold. It is no longer affordable for people like me. The same thing applies to eggs and even beans. These are proteinous foods that children need to grow, but since I can’t afford them what can I do?
“Ordinary power milk that the children used to take has also gone out of reach. We don’t even know what chicken looks like anymore. If you see chicken in my pot , a miracle must have happened somewhere and somehow.
“It is disheartening but the concern is no longer about meat or fish anymore. It is about putting something in the stomach to keep life going.”
The National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, during the week said the country’s headline inflation rate reached 33.2 percent in March 2024. This represents a 1.5 percentage points year-on-year (YoY) increase from 31.7 percent recorded in February 2024.
The NBS noted that food inflation increased YoY by 2.09 percentage points to 40.01 percent in March from 37.92 percent in February.
Checks on the bureau’s reports for February and March revealed that the soaring prices of fish, meat and other proteinous foods contributed to the rising inflation rate.
The ugly development has compelled more people to quit poultry, meat and dairy food that give protein.
Mrs Emmanuel, who washes for a local dry cleaner in Alimosho Area of Lagos, says she has completely done away with iced fish and meat. The woman wore a famished look as she spoke with our correspondent. Her child was also without vigour. It was evident from the baby’s look that she is a victim of poor nutrition.
“I have not eaten fresh fish or meat since the price went up,” Mrs Emmanuel interjected our correspondent as she goes on to rhetorically ask, “Where will I get the money to buy them at such exorbitant rates?”
Asked how she has been coping without meat and fish, she said: “What I have been doing is more of having flavour of fish in my food. I buy smoked fish for N500 and add it to my food or soup.
“The N500 worth of smoked fish could be just one or two or three small fish. I cut them into pieces and scatter them in whatever I am cooking.
“The idea is just to have a taste of fish in what I am eating. The idea of eating one big chunk of fish is gone with the situation in the country. My prayer is that the price of smoked fish should not skyrocket.”
Although she understands the nutritional implications of not eating proteinous food in the right quantity, she said: “There is nothing one can do about the situation at hand. It is rather unfortunate that what I managed to enjoy growing up, my children can’t enjoy a bit of them. I hope and pray that things will get better.”
While Mrs Emmanuel relies on smoked fish to make soup, a Lagos housewife, Adenike, said she has resorted to using cow skin popularly known as ‘ponmo’ to make her food.
“Ponmo is the way out even though the price is also soaring. It may not be as nutritious as fish and meat but the fact is that ponmo helps us to have something to put in our soup when eating.
“Before now, we could buy a crate of egg when it was sold for a little over N1,000 and put in our stew, but that is not possible anymore.”
She noted that even food vendors have cut down on the quantity of meat, fish and egg that they prepare to sell because people can no longer afford them like they used to.
“A food vendor in my area used to cook a crate of egg every day, but now she doesn’t cook up to half of a crate because people can’t afford to buy one for N200″ she said.
She said her customers now prefer to eat beans and garri instead of rice, which will require them to include meat, fish or egg in their food.
“Go and check the people selling fish and meat and see if they are still selling as they used to do in the past. Some of them have closed shop,” she said.
More parents share experience
Speaking in the same vein, a businesswoman who identified herself simply as Ese said: “It is obvious that there will be nutritional challenges with less or no protein for our children. But you can’t be talking about nutrition in the face of hunger.”
Before now, she said, “the poor could brag of eating whatever the rich man was eating. When a rich man ate live chicken, the poor ate frozen chicken. When the rich ate live turkey, the poor would ate frozen one.
“But that is not possible anymore for poor people like me. I can’t afford to buy frozen turkey again. It costs about N7,000 a kilo. Two of us can finish a kilo at a go.
“Frozen chicken costs about N5,000 a kilo. How many people will that go for and for how long?
“The same thing applies to fish. Ordinary crayfish that we used to give taste to soup is no longer affordable. Something drastic needs to be done about all this.”
Also speaking, a trader, Mrs Nnaedozie, said she has drastically cut her consumption of meat, fish and egg.
“They don’t come cheap anymore. A kilo of Titus fish is about N4,700, and ‘kote’ is N3, 200. If they cut either of them into pieces, the most you will have from a kilo is seven pieces. If you buy two kilos, you will have a maximum of 14 pieces.
“A family of four or five will only eat that for two or three days at most. This is excluding other expenses involved in making the soup.
“Tell me how I would continue to eat fish the way I used to do when the price was less than N2,000?
“The same goes for meat. N5,000 meat is no longer visible in the pot. A tin of milk or ordinary sachet powder milk is no longer affordable. The issue is more of filling the stomach and not about nutrition.”
Sharing her experience with a family friend she visited recently, she said: “I took some packs of noodles to them and immediately the children saw the noodles, they started dancing. They said they hadn’t eaten it since the price went above N200 a pack.
“They cooked the noodles while I was still there and ate everything without asking for eggs like children would normally want to do. Their concern was primarily about filling their stomach and not about meat, fish or egg that can go with it.
“It was then I knew that we that are still managing to get fish or meat once in a while are blessed.”
Experts speak on dangers of poor intake of protein
Nutritionists and dieticians have said that children are predisposed to certain health challenges if they don’t take the required quantity of protein needed for their growth.
Explaining what protein is and its importance to the well-being of children, a Nutrition advisor /Programme Officer Tunakin Nutrition Centre Nigeria Limited, Lagos, Temitope Bodunde Ayegbusi (MNSN), said animal protein sources such as poultry, fish, meat, milk and egg are referred to as complete protein because they contain all the nine essential inherent amino acids.
“These nine essential amino acids include Histidine, Isoleucine, Leucine, Lysine, Metheonine, Phenylalanine, Threonine, Tryptophan and Valine which are obtained from adequate diet consumed to play crucial roles in the body which includes growth and development, repairing worn out tissues, maintenance, synthesis of hormone, enzyme, nerve impulses, cell signaling and other body constituents.
Children, he said, “need protein-rich foods for growth and development in contrast to adult that need it for maintenance.
“Protein as a nutrient is very essential to achieve optimum physical and mental growth among young children while its deficiency, shortage or inadequacy leads to serious manifestation of hunger and protein energy malnutrition (PEM).
“PEM is divided into two (2) which is (i) Kwashiorkor (not eating enough protein despite eating a reasonable amount of calorie) and (ii) Marasmus (not eating both enough protein and calorie).
“Symptoms of problems associated with consumption of food deficient of protein among young children include irritability and fatigue followed by slowed growth, weight loss and muscle wasting, oedema (generalised swelling), skin change, enlargement of liver and abdomen and weakening of the immune system, leading to frequent infection and death.”
However, he said, “protein-rich foods which are majorly animal sources remain essential to the development of young children but the cost is creating a serious challenge among parents with low socio-economic class or extremely poor households.
“This burden of its implication has led to investigation of foods to alternate the high-cost animal source of protein (poultry, fish, meat, milk and egg). Plant food sources like soya beans, peas, lentils, chickpeas, rice, quinoa, buckwheat, seeds, nuts, fungi (mycoprotein) and insect such as African palm weevil larvae contains a significant amount of protein that can meet the requirement of the young children if properly combined in their good ratios.
“Soya bean contains high protein contents that can be processed into a variety of products such as soy flour and soymilk which can be used to fortify the food consumed by the young children to alternate milk, meat and egg that are very expensive to afford.
“The quality of soybean protein is compared to that of milk, meat, egg and fish. Of plant-based protein, soybeans are considered the highest biological value with a significant amount of the nine essential amino acids that will meet the requirement of the young children.
“With soybean, mycoprotein and insects that are less expensive and rich source of protein, the hazardous effect of animal protein sources cost will be drastically reduced.”
Other experts speak
Also sharing her thoughts on the importance of protein, especially for children, and how to source for alternatives in the face of the biting economic challenges, Lilian Felix, a nutritionist, said: “Protein is an essential nutrient and is crucial to good health. It is required for growth and maintenance of body tissues, keeps the immune system strong, transport and store nutrients and acts as an energy source.
“Not eating the right amount of protein can affect a child’s development. When a child does not get enough protein, it leads to various health problems such as stunted growth in children, kwashiorkor, loss of muscle mass, fatty liver, increased severity of infections, skin, hair and nail problems, edema.”
Continuing, she said: “A lot of people today are living on a tight budget due to the economic situation. In a time where so many people are out of work, facing uncertain financial future, getting food that is both wholesome and affordable can be a challenge to feeding well.
“Already this will lead to lots of nutritional deficiencies because most people will consume more of “mono-diet” which means eating what they only have and fail to consume other nutrients that they can’t afford, which will cause deficiency of another essential micronutrient.”
The nutritionist noted that while having financial setbacks can certainly present its challenges, it is possible to prepare “your own healthy meals and stay within budget. Not everyone can afford ranch produce or poultry outputs to consume, but there are lots of affordable alternatives to the food that will amount to an adequate diet.”
How do we source these other micro nutrients whenever we can’t afford them?” she rhetorically asked and went on to provide an answer: “We source these micro nutrients from our locally-sorted foods within our community.
“Let’s look at how to supplement these nutrients in our diets using our local foods. What most people count only as protein are beans, chicken, turkey, egg, beef, fish, corn beef, milk and sardines, to mention a few.
“Please note that eating protein does not amount to eating only meat. There are other sources of getting protein through our meals that you don’t need to break a bank to source for and it’s of benefit to your health.”
Listing some local sources of protein, she said: “I believe we all know what locust bean is. This food is highly proteinous in nature and can replace protein completely. So even if you don’t have meat to cook, you can add locust beans to your food. It will replace the protein.
2. Guinea Corn: Grains are fantastic sources of protein and relatively economical.
3. Tofu: Also known as bean curd, is made from soy bean milk. It is an extremely low fat and nutritious alternative to meat, containing high amounts of protein, calcium and vitamin E.
4. Mushroom: The mighty mushroom has thrice the amount of protein than most veggies, making it a great addition to pasta, pies and all sorts. Combine with other protein rich foods such as eggs, tofu and pulses for a super healthy free meal.
5. Lentils (kidney beans etc) have one of the highest levels of protein.
6. Castor seed (ogiri-okpei) is a nutritious protein substitute. It contains potassium, iron, phosphorus and other vitamins. It can be added in your soups.
7. Crayfish is a cheap source of protein and sea food that is similar to the much expensive shrimp and lobster, but is much less in price compared to them
8. Periwinkle is a potential source of good‐quality proteins. It contains most of the essential amino acids in adequate amounts for human nutrition and is not expensive.
9. Nuts such as groundnut, almond nut, walnut, cashew nut, etc are fantastic everyday sources of protein. One cup of almond provides more protein than egg while cashews are high in antioxidants and promote good cardiovascular health.
9. Bambara nut is a high-protein plant food that can be used as a functional ingredient in food formulation. It can be used to make ọkpa.
“Bambara nut protein can be used to make plant-based milk, soups, shakes, and noodles that have a creamy and smooth consistency. It can also be used to create food products that have a firm and chewy texture, such as meat analogues, sausages, cheese, yoghurt, and tofu.
“Other sources of protein that are inexpensive and can benefit your health include soybeans, milk, Greek yogurt, oats, chia seeds, egg, sweet potatoes, avocado.You can add kidney beans to stews and salads.
“Chia seeds can be added to your smoothies, juice, mixed into yogurt and oatmeal, or sprinkle on top of a salad. This tiny black seed has a ton of protein and other nutrients.
“Avocados can be added to many recipes to give your meals a nutritional boost.
“You can use it to substitute regular spreads like butter and margarine. It can be added to your salad, smoothie.
“All these can be sourced within our community. It is advised that parents become more creative with food sourcing for their wards. There are more than five ways to prepare a particular meal.”
To save more, she said, parents should learn to go to local markets where they can get these products cheaper and even stock up for some time before repeating.
“Budget is the greatest tool to fight financial turmoil. The thrust is only you know your income and what works for you than anyone else. Use what you have to cushion the effect of the economic situation while your create more chances to earn better,” she added.
A holistic nutritionist, dietician and food processor, Obembe Oluwaseun, advocated nutrition education.
Instead of poultry and dairy produce, he said, “we can make do with plant nutrients- that is phytonutrients. Phyto-nutrients are very effective in reversing cardiovascular disease and making the body mechanism balanced too.
“We need to encourage people even within the small space in their compound to plant too. For example, in front of my house, I planted vegetables.
“If everybody can go into nutrition sensitive farming, I think it’s going to be encouraging. It will even cut some expenses in the house too.”
Amplifying what his colleagues said earlier, he said: “Lack of protein in the body leads to kwashiorkor. When the six classes of nutrients are not present in the body, people go into malnutrition.”
Adding to the list of alternative protein sources mentioned above, Obembe said: “It is not only beans that is rich in protein. Beans too contains carbohydrates. So, when we are talking about alternatives, we talk about tofu, quinoa, lentil, and groundnut butter. Those are alternatives to cutting the price of poultry and dairy protein sources in the market.
“People can start to take tofu (wara) as an alternative. In the past, they used it as a substitute for meat. When there’s no meat, they used tofu to cook. Water foods that have gone into extinction should be brought back.
For example, some local snacks like ‘kokoro’ and ‘ojojo’ should be brought back, and they are very cheap.
“Mukuna (werepe) that itches when it touches the body, the pea in it is proteinous and it is very good for typhoid. There is also Kulundi too. It has carcinogenic properties.
“These are protein substitutes. It is not only meat and fish that you get protein from.
“Why is it that the people in the rural areas live longer than the people in the city? It is because they live on natural endowment.”
As part of its contribution to helping Nigeria fight the scourge of malnutrition, Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), an International NGO has supported two Kaduna based Nigerian Agribusinesses in the nutrition value chain, with N4 Million equity-free grants.
GAIN said despite the critical role Agribusinesses plays in Nigeria’s economy, generating employment, ensuring food security, boosting nutrition and contributing to overall economic development, access to finance has consistently challenged its potential impacts.
It, however, said that, it was against that backdrop that GAIN established Microgrant Funding to bridge the gap by providing equity-free grants to entrepreneurs, particularly for those operating in Vitamin A Maize, Vitamin A Cassava, and Orange-Fleshed Sweet Potato sectors.
Speaking while presenting the grants to the two firms in Kaduna, Senior Manager, Supply Chain for Commercialization at GAIN, Godwin Ehiabhi, said the support aims to commercialize nutrient-enriched food products in Kaduna, Benue, Nasarawa, and Oyo states.
According to Ehiabhi, “One primary obstacle faced by Nigerian agribusinesses is securing financing for innovative solutions. High-interest rates offered by banks and financial institutions further compound the challenges for agribusinesses seeking loans.
“GAIN is proudly awarding N4,000,000 (two million naira each) equity-free grants to Med Grains and Numical Industries. Med Grains focuses on processing and packaging vitamin A Maize into value-added products such as flour, while Numical Industries produces various Vitamin A Maize-derived products, including gruel (Tom Brown).
“Both businesses aim to scale their operations with the grant, ensuring food security and nutrition through access to vitamin A-fortified foods. The GAIN Microgrant Funding Opportunity not only supports entrepreneurs but also contributes to the broader mission of addressing malnutrition in Nigeria.
Nutrition plays a pivotal role in bolstering productivity and fostering economic prosperity. Nevertheless, the escalating rates of malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies within Nigeria are raising concerns about their potential to undermine productivity and jeopardise the nation’s economy. In response to these concerns, a collaborative roundtable event hosted by the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Center (CISLAC), the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), and E-Health Africa convened stakeholders. Their collective call to action implored the government to vigorously enforce food fortification policies through legislation, with the aim of reversing this troubling trend. Associate Editor ADEKUNLE YUSUF reports
As far as public gatherings go, this particular meeting stood out as a resounding success in terms of attendance. All attendees, evidently impassioned, echoed a singular sentiment: bolstering nutrition holds the key to lowering the societal disease burden. An equally pressing need was underscored – the imperative of disseminating awareness regarding the significance of food fortification, a catalyst that could stimulate demand for fortified food products to the advantage of the entire populace.
Convened as a follow-up to a recent event on the issue, this meeting drew assembly of key stakeholders. Among the participants were representatives from health and food regulatory bodies, legislators, nutrition experts, prominent food producers, civil society organisations, and a cadre of journalists hailing from diverse media outlets who dissected the issues under the theme, “Fortifying Nigeria’s Future: Interface Session with Stakeholders (State and Non-state Actors) Towards Promoting Fortification Compliance and Workforce Nutrition.” The venue was the Mariott Hotel, nestled in the heart of Ikeja, the capital of Lagos State, where stakeholders undertook a comprehensive evaluation of the progress achieved thus far, identified the prevailing challenges, and collectively crafted a comprehensive communiqué delineating their observations and recommendations.
Fueled by a growing concern over malnutrition’s debilitating impact on Nigerians, particularly the youth and the nation as a whole, the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), in collaboration with the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) and e-Health Africa, organised the roundtable to sound a wake-up call to Nigeria’s policymakers about the country’s deteriorating malnutrition crisis. According to organisers of the event, the primary objective was to heighten awareness surrounding the imperative of fortification compliance and bolstering workforce nutrition in Nigeria. It was driven by a shared belief between the organisers and the media that endorsing healthier dietary practices can play a pivotal role in shaping public opinion and catalysing policy transformations conducive to food fortification and enhanced nutrition standards in Nigeria.
In his inaugural address, the Executive Director of CISLAC, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, emphasised that Nigeria currently grapples with a severe nutrition crisis. This crisis forms the backdrop against which the organisers’ intervention must be understood, as they advocate for food fortification as a potent means to elevate nutrition standards, invigorate public health, and enhance the nation’s overall prosperity. In his address, Rafsanjani revisited a concern he had expressed back in May this year by drawing the participants’ attention to the persistent and severe nutrition crisis that Nigeria, as a nation, continues to grapple with. This crisis, he stressed, underscored the urgent need for the intervention advocated by the organisers: the adoption of food fortification as a proven strategy for enhancing not only nutrition and health but also the nation’s overall prosperity.
Citing data from the National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) for 2022, Rafsanjani highlighted some alarming statistics. He noted that 44.1% of children under the age of 5 in Nigeria were stunted, signifying chronic malnutrition. Although this figure represented a slight decrease from 46.0% in 2018, it remained unacceptably high and raised concerns about long-term health and developmental repercussions. Additionally, he pointed out that 20.3% of children under 5 were wasted, indicating acute malnutrition—a life-threatening condition. Furthermore, the NDHS reported that 18.7% of Nigerian adults were overweight, with 4.4% classified as obese. These rates had increased from 17.4% and 3.4%, respectively, in 2018. Rafsanjani emphasised that overweight and obesity were significant risk factors for chronic diseases such as heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancer. He asserted that addressing these health challenges necessitated effective and sustainable food fortification compliance and workforce nutrition initiatives in Nigeria.
Rafsanjani underscored the importance of organisations taking workforce nutrition seriously to enhance their employees’ productivity through the implementation of relevant measures. He advocated for food fortification as the established path forward, characterising it as a simple, cost-effective intervention for incorporating essential nutrients into commonly consumed foods among large populations. He also pointed out that the Nigerian government had developed regulations and mandatory food fortification policies in 2009 and 2019, respectively. These policies aimed to promote food fortification and were overseen by three key agencies—NAFDAC, FCCPC, and SON— all represented at the event. Rafsanjani acknowledged the agencies’ efforts in implementing and monitoring compliance with these policies, highlighting that more progress needs to be made.
According to him, food fortification is a proven way to improve nutrition and health as it prevents micronutrient deficiencies, such as anemia, vitamin A deficiency, and iodine deficiency. Although adults spend more than half of their active hours of the day at work, the workforce is vulnerable to malnutrition, he added. “Workers who are not getting the nutrients they need are more likely to be sick, less productive. This can have a significant impact on the economy. To ensure a healthy workforce, he suggested that employers should provide their workers with the nutrients they need, as fortification can help to reduce absenteeism, increase productivity, and improve safety.”
He appealed to the media to help in raising awareness of the importance of food fortification and workforce nutrition as the media plays a critical role in shaping public opinion and influencing policies, adding that by focusing on the issue, the media could attract the attention of policymakers to it and save millions of Nigerian children from the pangs and pains of malnutrition. Given the persistent challenge of malnutrition, the interface session became essential for organisers and participants to collectively brainstorm on further steps. This was despite the government’s endeavours to achieve a well-nourished population through regulatory and mandatory food fortification policies. In closing, Rafsanjani issued a rallying cry: “We need to work together to ensure that all mandatory food vehicles (local and imported) sold in Nigeria are fortified with essential vitamins and minerals. We have a number of challenges to overcome, but I am confident that we can achieve this goal if we work together.”
During the Interface Session facilitated by Senator Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe, Health System Consultant and immediate Past Chairman Senate Committee on Health, various speakers and stakeholders addressed critical issues related to food fortification and workforce nutrition. Goodwill messages were delivered by Mr. Laoye Jaiyeola, the CEO of NESG; Dr. Michael Ojo, Country Director of GAIN; House of Representatives members Dennis Idahosa and Amos Magaji; and Mr. John Uruakpa from the Federal Ministry of Health. Presentations centered on the monitoring of compliance, the status of food fortification, and challenges faced by regulators. Representatives from key agencies such as the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) shared their insights. In addition, Toju Ogele, the Programme Manager of E-Health Africa, delivered a presentation on data from other studies regarding the status of fortification compliance.
Senator Oloriegbe highlighted the direct relationship between proper nutrition and optimal productivity, asserting that the nation’s economic prosperity hinged on addressing this issue. He called on the media to fulfill its role as an “opinion moulder” by actively seeking information and knowledge on nutrition, advocating for improved nutrition practices, and disseminating information to the public. He defined nutrition as the science of food in relation to health and malnutrition as the absence of proper nutrition. He underscored that the nation had reached a crucial juncture where enacting a law to enforce compliance with food fortification policies and urging companies in the sector to prioritise effective workforce nutrition programs was imperative.
He further explained, “You may have food but cannot eat, and you can eat but have no food to eat. If you consume food that your body cannot process, it is essentially equivalent to being susceptible to malnutrition. We need legislation that obliges nutritional companies to provide nutrition for their workforce because currently, it is optional. Such a law should mandate compliance with food fortification and the promotion of workforce nutrition in Nigeria.”
Oloriegbe stressed the interconnectedness of various aspects of nutrition, including the health of pregnant women and infants, and the well-being of the workforce. He expressed concern over the more than two million malnourished children under the age of five in Nigeria and called for swift action from the government and all stakeholders in the food and fortification sector to address this issue. He also advocated for the right to proper food intake among workers in the food and fortification industry, emphasising that individuals without access to good nutrition were more prone to illness and unproductivity.
In his address, Magaji, Chairman of the House of Reps Committee on Health Institutions, emphasised the importance of political will in enforcing food fortification and workforce nutrition policies. He advocated for legislation to ensure compliance and urged authorities to prioritise the health of the Nigerian population and the nation’s economic development; while Idahosa, Chairman of the House of Reps Committee on Healthcare Services, stressed the need to raise awareness about food fortification and its benefits, with a focus on generating demand for fortified food products. He highlighted that the challenge was not a lack of work plans or laws but the need to strengthen regulations for enforcement.
For Uruakpa, Director of Micronutrient Deficiency Control at the Federal Ministry of Health, there is compliance at the regulatory level, but issues usually arise when products reach the market. He noted that some industries cut corners, and effective monitoring and enforcement were essential. Mr. Jaiyeola, CEO of NESG, emphasised the importance of nutrition-sensitive policies and programs to address malnutrition’s underlying determinants, including poverty and food insecurity. He stressed the need to improve access to high-quality diets, such as fortified food products, to enhance immune functions and cognitive skills.
The Country Director of GAIN, Dr. Ojo, discussed the organisation’s efforts over its 21-year history to combat malnutrition, acknowledging the existence of a comprehensive national food fortification programme but noted that it could be more effective in delivering micronutrients to vulnerable populations. He highlighted that the programme could be improved to the point where consumers do not need to question whether their food is fortified. If all commonly consumed foods are fortified as required, the system will naturally deliver the necessary micronutrients to the population.
“We have inspired wider national and global action by influencing government policies with evidence and learning from practice. We have catalysed alliances and facilitated public and private sector engagements and investments in the transformation of food systems so that they deliver healthier diets, especially for the most vulnerable. GAIN has evolved its work in Nigeria over the years. We started life in Nigeria firmly focussed on Large-scale Food Fortification (LSFF) – a proven, cost-effective, and scalable intervention to deliver essential nutrients to people through commonly consumed staples and condiments.
“However, as our understanding of the drivers of malnutrition evolved, we have engaged more and more with tackling the root cause of all forms of malnutrition – diets (or unhealthy diets) – by focussing on food systems and how they can be transformed. In spite of that evolution, LSFF still remains a significant part of our work in Nigeria. We have a comprehensive and mature national food fortification programme that is subscribed to by the private sector, largely understood by the population, with established regulatory structures and oversight with SON, NAFDAC and FCCPC.
“But there is a gap. The programme is not as effective as we would expect to be in delivering micronutrients to vulnerable population. The good thing about LSFF, if done properly, is that people don’t even need to think about whether the food is fortified. These are foods that people commonly consume (wheat, maize, oil, salt, sugar, etc). If all food is fortified as they should, the system simply delivers the micronutrients! We have done fantastically well with iodine deficiency. But we know that deficiencies of vitamin A, B-vitamins, zinc and iron remain at alarming levels in some of the critical populations – children under 5, adolescents and Women of Reproductive Age (WRA).
“We have a few beacon companies performing extremely well. There are many others however who are not complying, and by so doing, securing undue advantage over those that comply but more importantly shortchanging Nigerians by delivering supposedly fortified foods without the fortification or at lower levels than required. Another reason is that regulatory oversight is not as rigorous as it should be, just as there are unnecessary overlaps in responsibilities, which places undue burdens on business and reduces the overall effectiveness of regulation.”
A coalition of stakeholders, under the auspices of international Society of Media in Public Health (lSMPH) and Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has called on the Kano state Government to declare a state of emergency on malnutrition to avert persistent death of children under the ages of five.
Speaking to reporters in Kano on Tuesday, the Executive Director of ISMPH, Mrs. Moji Makanjuola and Executive Director CISLAC, Auwal Ibrahim Musa expressed worries on the continued neglect of prevention and treatment of Severe Acute Malnutrition by northern state governments.
Makunjuola said that there was urgent need for northern state governors to accord appropriate priority to malnutrition to avert the rampant death of children from the preventable long stock-out of Ready-to-use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) across Community Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM).
According to the Civil Society Groups, an estimated 2.5m Nigerian Children under-5 suffer from Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM), annually exposing nearly 420,000 children under-five to early death from common childhood illness such as diarrhea, pneumonia and malaria.
The lamented with the indices observed in Kano state showed it has the highest number with with 1.4m stunted kids in the North.
“The devastating impacts of malnutrition in state led to the scale-up of CMAM programme from Six (6), to 13 LGA’s out of 44 was a disbursing among children under-5 and pregnant mothers.
“It is worrisome that Kano state’s CMAM facilities presently experience a complete stock-out of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food, (RUTF) over the last eight months emanating from delay in the release of funding to procure of RUTF.
They urged the states to sustain budget line for nutrition and ensure timely releases of funds for procurement of RUTF to avert stock-out in the distribution across the states.
More than 240 Nigerian children die of hunger daily, according to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). One in three Nigerians also lives below the poverty line, with children and women more vulnerable. But an empowerment scheme to push back the scourge of malnutrition and poverty is on course. Tagged Noiler Bird Initiative, its promoters have been distributing dual purpose breed of chickens to small-holder poultry farmers, especially women across the county. Assistant Editor CHIKODI OKEREOCHA reports that with more public-private sector partnerships, the initiative could be the template to banish or, at least, significantly reduce poverty and malnutrition.
The walked up to the stage beaming with smiles and exuding as much confidence as her new-found financial freedom could allow. The occasion was the media campaign launch of Noiler Bird Initiative in Lagos, where Mrs. Olabisi Adepoju, a retiree from Osun State, Southwest Nigeria, gleefully annlounced that her emergence as one of the beneficiaries of the empowerment initiative marked a dramatic turnaround in her life and business.
The retiree, who could barely hold her excitement, said, for instance, that she makes between 20 and 25 per cent profit from poultry farming since she embraced the programme, which distributes dual purpose chickens with very low maintenance to women in rural areas. “As a retiree, Noiler chicken farming pays me more than putting my money in investment houses. I make more in five weeks than I made while still working,” she said
The Noiler Bird Initiative is a private sector-led empowerment programme aimed at taming and possibly, eradicating poverty and malnutrition among rural dwellers, especially women and youths in Nigeria. The scheme is being promoted by Amo Farm Sieberer Hatchery (AFSH) Limited, an agro-allied company based in Awe, Oyo State.
Under the initiative, dual purpose breed of chickens developed for small-holder poultry farmers are distributed to rural dwellers especially women and youths. This was aimed at addressing their challenge of food insecurity and financial dependence.
The Noiler bird has all the attributes of a native chicken, albeit with additional benefits of faster growth, less fat, tasty meat and more eggs. They also thrive on low inputs and can adapt to any environment, while also meeting the gap of nutritional security of Nigeria and other developing countries.
The Group Managing Director (GMD), AFSH, Dr. Ayoola Oduntan, was emphatic that the programme was the solution to poverty and malnutrition currently ravaging Nigeria and hurting her chances of meeting the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the 2030 Development Agenda.
The SDGs are a collection of 17 global goals set by the UN General Assembly in 2015 for the year 2030. Among the 17 SDGs, ending extreme poverty is goal number one; achieving zero hunger is number two. Oduntan said the Noiler bird, which his company developed through years of research from 2003 to 2014, would held address the challenge of poverty, malnutrition, high maternal and child mortality faced essentially by women in the rural areas.
According to him, the company’s research started when it began looking into the production of a dual purpose bird with very low maintenance, which can sustain the people and tackle the challenges they faced.
“The initiative was developed for the grass root level in Nigeria and Africa at large. The bird is for backyard poultry production and they are developed to provide readily available source of egg and meat to tame malnutrition for households across the length and breadth of Nigeria and Africa,” he said.
The Amo Farm GMD explained that the birds are affordable, enduring, and easy to handle. “They (Noiler birds) produce eggs four times more than their native counterparts. While the male matures to table weight of between 2.5kg 14 weeks, the native bird will take 10 months to get 1.5kg body weight,” Oduntan added.
He reiterated that the objectives of the Noiler Bird Initiative are to curb hunger, give back impactfully and practically to the society at large; reduce maternal mortality; create additional income opportunity for women and youth in the rural areas, contribute to global food security, and encourage gender equality.
The Nation learnt that as at March 2019, Amo Farm, in partnership with some local and international Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and some State Governments, has distributed over 12 million birds across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. The company also targets to distribute about 10 million Noiler birds this year.
Adepoju, who is one of the lucky beneficiaries, admitted that the Noiler birds meant financial freedom for her and other rural women across the country. “It’s a very good deal,” she said, adding that apart from being a form of nutrition to rural women, many of them have become successful poultry farmers.
Similarly, Mrs. Comfort Shalangwa, another beneficiary from Taraba State, has never looked back since the programme came on stream. She said she has been selling Noiler chicks to Almajiri boys in Taraba State order to empower them, even as internally displaced women in Borno state are also being trained on poultry farming in a bid to restart business activities.
But beyond empowering women and youths, Oduntan, a graduate of Veterinary Medicine, said the gesture will help ensure that the estimated 90, 000 Nigerian children or more, whom the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) said could die of severe malnutrition, are safe and the quality of life in the rural areas in Nigeria, especially women, was improved by enhancing their income opportunities while providing quality source of proteins for them.
Citing UNICEF statistics, which said more than 240 Nigerian children die of hunger each day, the GMD said: “It is the duty of all of us to ensure the figure is drastically reduced. We can’t continue to approach the international community cap in hand, begging for alms when we have all it takes to curb hunger and poverty in a nation described as the giant of the continent.”
The Chief Operating Officer (COO), AFSH, Dr. Anand Burra, expressed optimism that the initiative would help eradicate poverty and malnutrition in Nigeria, especially in the rural areas where chicken and egg are still considered luxury foods.
Indeed, majority of poor households in Nigeria cannot afford to buy chicken and eggs. According to experts, estimate of per capita egg consumption in the country is just60 eggs/person/year, while poultry meat consumption is about 2.3 kg/person/year. This is meager compared with the recommended daily protein intake requirement per person, which is put at 20grm/person/day.
Push for more partnerships to stem poverty,
malnutrition
Although AFSH has so far reached 12 million women across the country with its dual purpose Noiler birds, while targeting to empower 10 million others this year, the intervention is still considered a drop in the ocean. The consensus of experts is that for Nigeria to close the poverty gap and halt malnutrition, more public-private sector partnerships are required.
This must be why Oduntan passionately called on corporate organisations and individuals to join hands and end hunger and poverty, which, according to him, have eaten deep into the fabrics of Nigeria. He warned that the scourge may consume the nation if not addressed head on.
Noting that the success of the initiative so far was anchored in his company’s resilience to make huge impact with its goals, he said “The overall achievement of these goals will be dependent on collaboration, partnerships with institutions with the same goals, armed with the Noiler as an effective tool to surpass these goals.”
He added that “to reach more people, we will need more institutions to join the Noiler Movement; we already staffed and equipped representatives who train and assist the women and recipients within 36 states in Nigeria and so we are equipped to produce results.”
It is easy to see why the initiative is key to the fight against poverty and malnutrition, and why Oduntan believes that all hands must be on deck to tame the scourge. For one, the consensus of development experts is that Nigeria’s rankings on global poverty and malnutrition are scary and unenviable.
For instance, one in three Nigerians lives below the poverty line, according to UNICEF. American research group Brookings Institution brought the reality nearer home when it said that with over 87 million people living in poverty, Nigeria has overtaken India as world’s poverty capital.
The non-profit public policy organisation based in Washington, DC said Nigeria, as at the end of May 2018, had about 87 million people living in extreme poverty, compared with India’s 73 million. As if that was not unsettling enough for Africa’s largest and most populous economy, the report added that six Nigerians become poor every minute.
This translates to 8, 640 Nigerians becoming poor every day. This, no doubt, explains why hunger and malnutrition have become endemic in Nigeria, with children and women said to be more vulnerable to these two greatest enemies of humanity.
UNICEF’s Chief of Communications in Nigeria, Mr. Doune Porter, said 13 million Nigerians suffered from acute hunger in 2018 and that more than half of the population suffers hidden hunger, otherwise called malnutrition.
The Fund also said malnutrition kills more people than some deadly diseases, with 40 per cent of infant deaths caused by malnutrition and hunger. It also said with newborn mortality rate of 29 deaths per 1, 000 births, Nigeria ranks 11th position on newborn deaths globally.
Oduntan also said because of acute malnutrition, Nigeria’s burden of stunted growth among children is the second highest in the world. With 16.5 million affected, her burden of severe malnutrition is high, with an estimated 2.6 million children said to be malnourished.
While these figures are no doubt, unacceptable for Africa’s largest and most populous nation desirous of joining the rest of the global community in meeting the SDGs, the consensus is that the situation has made the need for more collaborations and partnerships locally and globally more compelling.
A group, Wellbeing Foundation Africa (WFA), on Monday said appropriate feeding practices for children was still lacking among Nigerians, thus bringing about the prevalence of malnutrition in the country.
The organisation’s Communications Lead, Mr Joseph Jikeme, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
Jikeme spoke against the backdrop of the International Children’s Day of Broadcasting, marked annually on March 3 with the theme: “End Malnutrition: Protect the Future of the Nigerian Child ”.
According to him, research identifies cultural beliefs of giving children other foods, especially water, during the first six months of life, thereby preventing exclusive breastfeeding of infants, as gaps in addressing malnutrition.
“Malnutrition is fast becoming endemic in Nigeria; it accounted for more than 50 per cent of under-five mortality in Nigeria, with the infant mortality as high as 103 per 1,000 live births.
“Although, Nigeria is often seen to be blessed with various foods across the regions of the country, it has become clear that appropriate feeding practices for children is lacking among its people.
“Breast milk is important to the proper growth and development of infants, as it contains the nutrients and antibodies needed by infants to grow strong and healthy.
“However, local culture, religious beliefs and unethical medical practices have plagued the effective breastfeeding of children, over the last few decades.
“This is resulting in higher rates of wasting from acute undernutrition, stunting, and underweight in children across the country,” Jikeme said.
He said that in spite of the continuous education of mothers, significant third party individuals with the family and community often became a hindrance to mothers, practicing exclusive breastfeeding.
According to him, research has also identified that working mothers are usually unable to exclusively breastfeed their children within the first six months, due to their jobs and busy work life.
“Other significant gaps include desire of mothers to maintain the shape of their breasts for beauty purposes; the belief that breast milk substitutes imply the financial capacity of parents to care for their children.
“Also, the unethical practice of encouraging mothers to feed their children with breast milk substitutes by medical personnel; and oftentimes, the belief that breast milk alone is not satisfactory enough to feed babies.
“For children of over six months of age, proper complimentary feeding is often lacking, as children are fed with meals containing one food group,” the communications lead said.
Jikeme said that optimal breastfeeding could be achieved when mothers were properly educated on the importance of breastfeeding and supported by efficient policy structures that improved breastfeeding practices.
He said there was need for the Nigerian Labour Law to be amended to emphasise a six-month maternity leave for mothers, in both public and private sectors, as had been adopted in some states for their public sector workers.
“The country can further achieve optimal breastfeeding by providing breastfeeding-friendly workplaces in the public and private sectors that support breastfeeding breaks.
“This is to include facilities such as breastfeeding rooms, on-site creches, and flexible work hours for mothers.
“Private sector employers can be given incentives with tax breaks, to encourage baby friendly workplaces and six months maternity leave; and mother should be guaranteed their jobs on return from maternity leave.
“Malnutrition can be ended in Nigeria, with the implementation of key strategies.
“Promoting exclusive breastfeeding for infants will help promote healthy growth and development, and proper complimentary feeding will also ensure that every child grows properly.
“This can only be achieved with an inclusive stakeholders’ action, that includes the mothers, fathers, extended family members and community members, government and medical facilities.
“They all play an active role in ensuring that babies are properly breastfed and grow healthy,” Jikeme said. (NAN)
The malnutrition crisis facing Nasarawa State is yet another grim reminder of Nigeria’s failure to meet the needs of its most vulnerable citizens. About 30 children in the state have died and 2,000 hospitalised due to acute malnutrition over the past three months. In 2013, the National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) put stunting rates in the state at 34.5 per cent, while underweight and wasting rates stood at 20.9 per cent and 9.8 per cent, respectively. In 2017, it was 37.2 per cent for stunting, 20.7 per cent for under-weight and 6.8 per cent for wasting.
Malnutrition is defined by the World Health Organization as “deficiencies, excesses or imbalances of a person’s intake of energy and/or nutrients.” Its main manifestations are stunting (low height relative to age), wasting (low weight relative to height) and being under-weight (low weight relative to age).
Nasarawa’s predicament is replicated across Nigeria. About 25 million children suffer from wasting in the country, and an additional 17 million children are stunted due to chronic malnutrition. At least 3.5 million children under five years of age suffer from Severe Acute Malnutrition in the country’s insurgency-ravaged north-east.
The implications for the country are grave. Malnutrition is a condition whose effects are far more deleterious over the long term than most ailments. Those children who survive are likely to be smaller, weaker and less healthy than their peers. Many will suffer from learning and other disabilities, and will be more vulnerable to a host of infections and diseases later in life. Nigeria is thus likely to be deprived of the potential contributions of citizens whose capacity to contribute meaningfully to national development has been circumscribed due to no fault of their own.
If this lamentable situation is to be reversed, it will require a comprehensive effort to tackle the causative factors in a holistic manner. Perhaps the place to start is in policy formulation. Although Nigeria launched a National Food and Nutrition Policy and Plan of Action in 2002, current high child malnutrition rates clearly show that it has not been as successful as it should have been. The United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) claims that only 156 out of the country’s 774 local governments are implementing extensive nutrition programmes.
A more stringent execution of the 2002 action plan is critical to providing the framework for successful intervention in the child malnutrition epidemic. It provides states and local governments with clearly-outlined measures for tackling the problem, and makes arbitrary and uncoordinated responses less likely to occur.
In the immediate short-term, efforts must be made to ensure that all at-risk children are located and treated. Time is of the essence in treating malnutrition, and it is vitally important that patients can be brought in, properly evaluated and put on a Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) regimen which helps to rapidly restore weight. The 15 nutrition centres set up in Nasarawa to fight the malnutrition scourge are clearly inadequate for a state with a population of 1.869 million.
Comprehensive public enlightenment campaigns are another vital element in the battle against child malnutrition, because it helps to overcome the ignorance that makes mothers feed their children with the wrong kinds of food. When the populace can easily obtain information about the vital necessity of breastfeeding, regulated diets, recommended foods and methods of cooking, it will be better able to make the right choices.
Enhanced access to cheap and nutritious food is another important strategy. Increases in agricultural output must be translated into greater availability and cheaper prices to enable all citizens to feed their families properly.
Ending the long-running insurgency in the country’s north-east is critical to winning the war against child malnutrition. If farms cannot be cultivated and populations are constantly on the move due to unrest, it is unlikely that malnutrition can be effectively ended.
The sooner a lasting peace arrives, the faster a final victory can be achieved against the despoiler of Nigeria’s precious children.
Promasidor Nigeria Limited, makers of Cowbell, Loya Milk, Top Tea and Onga, has donated cases of various products to Empower 54 Project in support of its programme aimed at eradicating malnutrition among internally displaced persons (IDPs).
Empower 54 is a United States non-profit organisation providing humanitarian assistance since 2003 through health, education, empowerment, and IDP/refugee programmes to underprivileged Africans.
The donation, which was done during the weekend, would in no small measure help to boost the worthy initiative of the organisation, which is at the forefront of eradicating malnutrition in the country.
Promasidor’s support to Empower 54 is in line with its corporate social responsibility policy, which has seen it contribute to worthy causes across the country.
