The U.N. children’s agency says 2½ million Nigerian children are starving and only about 20 percent of them get help. Nigeria has the second-highest burden of stunted children in the world, with a national prevalence rate of 32 percent of children under five. An estimated 2 million children in Nigeria suffer from severe acute malnutrition (SAM), but only two out of every 10 children affected are currently reached with treatment. Seven percent of women of childbearing age also suffer from acute malnutrition.
Exclusive breastfeeding rates have not improved significantly over the past decade, with only 17 percent of babies being exclusively breastfed during their first six months of life. Just 18 percent of children aged 6-23 months are fed the minimum acceptable diet.
The States in northern Nigeria are the most affected by the two forms of malnutrition – stunting and wasting. High rates of malnutrition pose significant public health and development challenges for the country. Stunting, in addition to an increased risk of death, is also linked to poor cognitive development, a lowered performance in education, and low productivity in adulthood – all contributing to economic losses estimated to account for as much as 11 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Event Mission
Our mission is to support the government’s program to implement the National Plan of Action on Food and Nutrition by creating awareness and nutrition education on the need to fully integrate nutrition into all aspects of the primary health care (PHC) system, with a particular focus on community management of acute malnutrition (CMAM), infant and young child feeding (IYCF) interventions and micronutrient supplementation.
We also provide education and counseling to mothers and caregivers on how to adequately feed their children, and by providing free nutritious meal packs and food items to children and pregnant women.
We also showcase factsheets on UNICEF Nigeria’s Education, Nutrition, Child protection, etc. We will work with the government and other partners to promote exclusive breastfeeding in Nigeria through infant and young child feeding support groups.
Event Location
The event will take place monthly in Abuja, Nigeria or as the need arises
Organizer
