Malnutrition Crises Worsen as One in Four Children under Five Suffers
A recently conducted screening by Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) in partnership with the Ministry of Health has highlighted a devastating humanitarian crisis in Zamfara State, Nigeria. Tragically, one in four children under the age of five in the Shinkafi and Zurmi areas of the state have been found to be severely malnourished. The alarming statistics reveal the gravity of the situation: 27% of 97,149 children screened across 21 urban and rural locations are suffering from acute malnutrition, while 5% are severely malnourished. These numbers far exceed the critical level threshold set by the World Health Organisation (WHO) for malnutrition prevalence.
The dire state of affairs has prompted a call to action from the MSF, urging health authorities, international organisations, and donors to intensify efforts to address the worsened malnutrition crisis not only in Zamfara State but also in the broader Northwest Nigeria region which has not yet been included in the United Nations Humanitarian Response Plan.
Despite the efforts, the nutritional supplies required to treat affected children are in short supply. Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF), a crucial form of treatment, has become unavailable due to UNICEF’s suspension of supplies at the beginning of the year. The shortage jeopardises the condition of moderately malnourished children, potentially leading to severe malnutrition and threatening their long-term health and survival.
