In a recent appeal, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has underscored the urgent need for funding to address the escalating issues of malnutrition and health in some of Nigeria’s most vulnerable states, namely Katsina, Sokoto, and Zamfara. With a call for $15 million to specifically enhance the quality of life in these areas, UNICEF also announced a broader appeal for over $250 million to tackle nutrition and health challenges across several states in Nigeria.
The Dire Situation in Katsina, Sokoto, and Zamfara
The three states of Katsina, Sokoto, and Zamfara are facing severe challenges related to nutrition and health, with UNICEF estimating that $15 million is essential to improve the living conditions significantly. The funds are intended to support activities that would mitigate the high rates of malnutrition, particularly among children, where one in every ten children in Zamfara is at risk of death due to severe acute malnutrition (SAM).
Cristian Munduate, UNICEF’s representative in Nigeria, highlighted the crisis, noting that in Zamfara alone, 250,000 out of 1.2 million children suffer from SAM, alongside a stunting rate of 45.2% among children under five. The situation is compounded by low antenatal care attendance and institutional delivery rates, with only 15% of deliveries occurring in health facilities, significantly contributing to high neonatal mortality rates (42 per 1,000 live births).
Broader Appeal for $250 Million
Expanding beyond these three states, UNICEF’s broader appeal for $250 million aims to address nutrition, health, and education challenges across Nigeria’s most vulnerable states, including but not limited to Sokoto, Zamfara, and Katsina. This initiative is in response to an alarming increase in the need for Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF), especially in the North-West region, where an additional 200,000 children will require this treatment in 2025.
The appeal also includes measures to vaccinate over 300,000 children against measles in Sokoto and Zamfara and to provide medical treatment and nutritional counseling to two million vulnerable individuals. The call for such extensive funding illustrates the scale of the crisis, where the health infrastructure is under-resourced and overwhelmed, and community health programs need urgent strengthening.
Challenges and Interventions
The challenges in these regions are multifaceted, influenced by ongoing security issues, economic instability, and climate change effects, which have led to food insecurity and health service disruptions. For instance, the North-West and North-East regions are witnessing nearly 5.4 million children under five suffering from acute malnutrition, with projections of an additional one million cases by April 2025.
UNICEF’s interventions are targeted at both immediate relief and long-term resilience. They include providing Immediate Nutrition Support Distributing RUTF and other nutritional supplements to combat severe acute malnutrition, and improving access to medical facilities, especially for pregnant women and newborns, to reduce mortality rates, control outbreaks of diseases like measles that can exacerbate health challenges among malnourished children, and programs to educate on nutrition and health practices to prevent future malnutrition.
Call to Action
UNICEF has urged both state and federal governments to play active roles in addressing these challenges by expanding healthcare services and strengthening community health programs. Additionally, there is a call for international support and partnerships to ensure that these initiatives are not only funded but also effectively implemented.
The situation in Nigeria’s northern states is a stark reminder of the broader implications of malnutrition and health crises in developing regions, where interventions must be swift and sustained to prevent further deterioration. As UNICEF seeks these significant funds, the response from both local and global communities will be pivotal in shaping the future health and well-being of millions of children and families in Nigeria.
This appeal for action is not just about funding; it’s a call for a concerted effort to safeguard the lives of the most vulnerable, ensuring they have a chance at a healthy, productive future.
