Stakeholders decry rising child malnutrition in Niger, call for stronger actions

Stakeholders in Niger State have expressed concern over the rising level of child malnutrition in the state, calling for stronger government action and increased funding to address the problem at the grassroots.

The concern was raised during an advocacy visit by the Civil Society Scaling-Up Nutrition in Nigeria, CS-SUNN, led by the Niger State Coordinator, Dr Aisha Wakaso, to 25 local government councils to strengthen nutrition interventions.

The stakeholders noted that stunting among children in the state stands at 43.9 per cent, describing the situation as a serious concern requiring sustained intervention at the local government level.

Chairmen of Bida, Katcha and Munya, who spoke on behalf of the 25 councils, pledged greater commitment to nutrition and promised to strengthen efforts to protect vulnerable children in their communities.

The Chairman of Munya Local Government, Aminu Najume, said insecurity had reduced considerably in the area, adding that the council had previously hosted about five internally displaced persons’ camps and ensured that children in the affected communities received adequate care.

The Katcha Chairman, Dr Isah Baba Bida, and Bida Chairman, Manko Mohammed, also committed to reducing malnutrition especially with the setting up of the Nutrition Committee in the bid to safeguarding children in their respective communities.

The Project Manager, CS-SUNN National Office, Ambrose Evhoesor, said the organisation was concerned about the state’s nutrition burden and urged stakeholders to work collectively to reverse the trend.

Evhoesor stressed the need for government to take ownership of nutrition programmes, noting that development partners would not continue to shoulder the responsibility indefinitely.

Wakaso called for increased budgetary allocations for nutrition, timely release of funds and proper utilisation of resources to ensure that interventions reach children at the grassroots.

CS-SUNN coordinators from Plateau, Enugu and Delta states, who accompanied the team, also called for stronger sensitisation on exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of life, warning that poor nutrition in early childhood could affect children’s growth and development.