According to UNICEF, 283,727 children under the age of five in Benue State, Nigeria, are malnourished and stunted. The agency sounded the alarm during a coordination meeting involving various partners, government departments and stakeholders on Thursday.
Juliet Chiluwe, Chief of UNICEF Field Office in Enugu, revealed these startling statistics. Represented by Nutrition Specialist Ngozi Onuora, Chiluwe said that of the 11 million malnourished children in Nigeria, Benue accounts for 21%. The state, often referred to as the food basket of Nigeria, has an underweight prevalence rate of 13.6%. Additionally, 43% of children in Benue miss out on the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding in their first six months.
The meeting, organized by the Benue State Planning Commission in partnership with UNICEF, aimed to prioritize investment in maternal, infant, young child and adolescent nutrition. Chiluwe emphasized that the focus aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals, which aim to end all forms of malnutrition by 2030. She lamented that malnutrition remains an under-addressed issue, pledging UNICEF’s continued commitment to work with Benue and other stakeholders to combat it.
Faustina Shar, the Senior Nutrition Officer with the Benue State Primary Health Care Board, drew attention to a comprehensive review conducted in 2021. The review revealed an encouraging trend: a notable decrease in child food poverty rates across Nigeria as a whole. However, the data also exposed a troubling anomaly—Benue State registered disproportionately higher levels of child food poverty in comparison to other states.
The stark contrast in numbers raises concerns about the efficacy of existing nutritional programs and social welfare measures in Benue. Shar’s revelation amplifies the urgency to reevaluate and enhance initiatives aimed at curbing malnutrition and food insecurity, particularly among the state’s vulnerable young population.
The high levels of child food poverty in Benue, often labeled as the ‘food basket of Nigeria,’ make the findings even more unsettling. It raises questions about the adequacy of food distribution systems and accessibility of nutritious food options within the state.
Shar’s report underscores the need for a multifaceted approach to address these glaring disparities, involving both governmental and non-governmental organizations, as well as the broader community. It’s a clear call to action, signaling that more collaborative and targeted efforts are required to ensure that children in Benue have access to adequate nutrition for their optimal development.
Prof. Mathew Anigo, a facilitator at the meeting, noted that 54% of deaths among children under five are caused by malnutrition. He cited climate change and the Russia-Ukraine crisis as factors affecting nutrition and called for a public-private partnership to address these urgent issues.
Anigo urged government leaders to develop and implement a state-level nutrition plan to combat malnutrition effectively.
