To reduce the impact of food shortages and malnutrition on children in the north east, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency has contributed N460 million (SEK 10 million) to the United Nations Children’s Fund.
The contribution will strengthen ongoing interventions in Adamawa, Yobe and Borno states to provide micronutrients to children and boost child feeding practices across the states.
According to a press statement from UNICEF, the fund would support its efforts to roll back devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on children and families in the states.
“Estimates from the Nutrition and Food Security Surveillance (NFSS) conducted in November 2020 put the acute malnutrition prevalence at 6.2 per cent in Adamawa, 10 per cent in Borno and 12.3 per cent in Yobe. NFSS estimates put severe acute malnutrition prevalence at 0.6 per cent in Adamawa, 0.9 per cent in Borno and 2.1 per cent in Yobe.
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Through the use of community mobilisers, the SIDA funding will allow for swift identification, referral and treatment of severe acute malnutrition cases in children in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States. Frequent and increased micronutrient supplementation both at the community and referral centre levels will prevent and treat malnutrition in children, thereby providing them with a healthy start in life,’’ said UNICEF.
UNICEF further noted that the COVID-19 pandemic has worsened the nutrition experience of children in north east Nigeria, adding that the new fund would help to reverse the impact of the epidemic on the children who were already affected by conflict and displacement.
“Estimates from the Nutrition and Food Security Surveillance (NFSS) conducted in November 2020 put the acute malnutrition prevalence at 6.2 per cent in Adamawa, 10 per cent in Borno and 12.3 per cent in Yobe. NFSS estimates put severe acute malnutrition prevalence at 0.6 per cent in Adamawa, 0.9 per cent in Borno and 2.1 per cent in Yobe.
The result for many children is weaker immune systems, which puts them at greater risk of contracting COVID-19 and other infections. Even if children survive these infections, malnourished children generally have poorer outcomes in education and overall health,’’ it said.
