The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has raised alarm over the severe child malnutrition crisis affecting the northwest and northeast regions of Nigeria. According to UNICEF Representative Cristian Munduate, nearly 5.4 million children under the age of five are suffering from Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM), with projections showing an increase of one million cases by April 2025.
During a press briefing on Wednesday in Zamfara state, Munduate called for immediate intervention to address the rising malnutrition rates and other critical challenges affecting child welfare. She urged both local and international stakeholders to prioritize efforts to alleviate the suffering of millions of children in northern Nigeria.
Zamfara state alone accounts for 1.2 million children under five, with 250,000 battling SAM. Munduate highlighted troubling neonatal mortality rates in the state, which stand at 42 per 1,000 live births. “Wasting affects 1 in 10 children, while stunting among children aged 0 to 5 years is at an alarming 45.2%,” she said.
In addition to malnutrition, Munduate pointed to gaps in maternal healthcare. Only 21.5% of pregnant women in Zamfara attend the recommended four or more antenatal visits, and just 15% of deliveries take place in health facilities. Only 13% of pregnant women have access to skilled birth attendants.
Immunization rates are also critically low, with Penta 3 vaccine coverage at just 9.6%. Munduate noted that 40% of Nigerian children under five are stunted, and 2.1 million children nationwide have never been vaccinated.
“The crisis in Zamfara reflects a larger national challenge,” Munduate stated. “We urgently need systemic reforms to address the root causes of child malnutrition, poor healthcare, and lack of education.”
UNICEF has outlined an ambitious funding requirement of over $250 million to address these challenges across Nigeria’s most vulnerable states, including Sokoto, Zamfara, and Katsina. Of this, more than $100 million is earmarked for initiatives in these three states to improve nutrition, health, water, sanitation, child protection, and education.
In Zamfara, UNICEF plans to treat 400,000 children under five suffering from SAM and provide Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) to an additional 200,000 children in the northwest in 2025. Immunization efforts will target over 300,000 children in Sokoto and Zamfara, with a focus on measles vaccinations.
Munduate stressed the need for collaboration among governments, communities, and international partners. “We urge governments at all levels to expand healthcare services, strengthen community health programs, scale up nutrition interventions, and promote child spacing initiatives to address rapid population growth,” she said.
She also emphasized the importance of integrating nutrition into primary healthcare services and improving education infrastructure to promote inclusive education.
Despite the challenges, Munduate acknowledged some progress. “For example, the number of deaths among children under five per 1,000 life-years has declined. This is fantastic news,” she said.
Munduate also praised Zamfara’s efforts in maintaining zero polio cases in 2023 but cautioned that polio eradication requires a nationwide effort. “Polio cannot be considered eradicated in one state alone. We need the entire country to reach zero cases to prevent the spread of the virus,” she warned.
During her two-day visit to Zamfara, Munduate assessed challenges in education, health, and nutrition. She commended the state government for increasing its health budget from 4% to 7% and called for swift action to build on this progress.
“I believe that with political will and determination, things can change. Together, we can save lives, restore hope, and build a brighter future for the children of Zamfara and beyond,” she concluded.
