The United Nations Children’s Fund, has revealed that 3.5 million children in Nigeria are suffering from severe and acute malnutrition.
It also said 400,000 children risk preventable deaths in one month and eight days due to severe malnutrition.
UNICEF Nigeria’s Chief of Field Operations and Emergencies, Judith Leveille, stated this during a joint press briefing held in Abuja, focused on the European Union’s support for victims of the Yelewata crisis in Benue State and the nutrition emergency in the North-East and North-West.
Leveille said “with the development, the country faced a stockout of its essential nutrition commodities.
“So, we need to call on all forces to prevent a stock out of essential nutrition commodities used to treat severe acute malnutrition. As we speak, we can expect a stock out by September 1.
“So, we have one month and eight days to avoid the preventable deaths of over 400,000 children. That’s a lot of children.
“I’m sure that among them, there could be a Nobel Prize winner, a brilliant scientist who invents a life-saving solution, a great Nigerian musician, or a great actor.
“Nigeria has the potential to produce such individuals. A lot can be done to prevent this situation. By essential commodities, I’m talking about ready-to-use therapeutic food.”
The UNICEF chief added that “today, we are gathered because we have a common understanding. More can be done to ensure that all severely acute malnourished children, and we are talking about a burden of 3.5 million children in Nigeria, are treated.
“The situation is dire. Over the weekend, we met over 100 children who needed urgent treatment. We met little Memunah, little Aisha, their mothers and of course, my colleagues—Médecins Sans Frontières, Action Against Hunger, were there at the stabilisation centres.
