By Adamu David
The United Nations Children’s Education Fund (UNICEF) has sounded the alarm that about 5.4 million under-five children are suffering from acute malnutrition in the Northwest and Northeast regions of Nigeria.
The UNICEF Country Representative in Nigeria, Ms Cristian Munduate, sounded the alarm during a press briefing in Gusau, Zamfara State.
Munduate spoke about a malnourishment and other related crises that affects millions of children across the country, saying that over $250 million is needed to address the crisis, with more than $100 million needed for Sokoto, Zamfara, and Katsina alone is required for vital services in nutrition, health, WASH, child protection, and education.
Medical experts and parents told newsmen that the situation is now worsened by farmers abandoning the farms due to insecurity and prevailing economic crisis.
Munduate said in Zamfara alone, 250,000 children suffer from severe acute malnutrition (SAM) as nearly half of all children under five (45.2 per cent) are stunted, reflecting long-term under-nutrition.
The neonatal mortality rate is 42 deaths per 1,000 live births as only 21.5 per cent of pregnant women attended at least four antenatal visits, while institutional deliveries are just 15 per cent.
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Similarly, she said, just 13 per cent of pregnant women have access to skilled birth attendants.
Munduate disclosed that immunisation rates are critically low, with Penta 3 vaccine coverage at 9.6 per cent. Educational access is also concerning, with 62 per cent of children—over 700,000—out of school, and 60 per cent of girls married before the age of 18. Furthermore, only 31.4 per cent of children in Zamfara have their births registered, leaving many vulnerable and unaccounted for.
While commending Zamfara State for maintaining its zero-polio status, the UNICEF official emphasised that achieving a polio-free Nigeria requires sustained efforts across all states.
“Polio cases in one state are not enough. We need the entire country to be at zero because the risk of spreading the virus remains high,” said Munduate. Even after one or two years of progress, a resurgence can occur if we don’t remain vigilant.”
While many malnourished children are receiving treatment, she said: “We visited stabilisation centres and saw firsthand the life-saving work being done for malnourished children. Some children who entered in critical condition are now recovering, but sadly, not all of them survive. This shows the urgency of prioritising child health,” she said.
Munduate pointed to a lack of information and education at the community level as a significant barrier to progress as she described meeting a 19-year-old mother with three children, illustrating the health toll of early and frequent childbirth on young women.
“Raising children requires not just resources but also knowledge. Many mothers are unaware of proper nutrition practices, such as the need for diverse diets. For example, exclusive breastfeeding is essential for the first six months, but beyond that, children need nutrient-rich foods like beans, not just staples like rice,” Munduate explained.
She called for increased community education efforts, particularly through radio campaigns, to disseminate critical information to households.
