Severe Malnutrition: Bauchi State Records Four Child Deaths
By Roselyn James
Four fatalities stemming from Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) have been recorded in Bauchi State among children under the age of five.
The tragic development was confirmed during a State Committee on Food and Nutrition meeting held in Jos, the capital of Plateau State, by State Nutrition Officer Abubakar Saleh.
During the two-day meeting, State Nutrition Officer Abubakar Saleh shed light on the nutrition situation in Bauchi State, revealing that a total of 4,384 SAM-afflicted children were admitted for treatment across 14 Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition Centers within the state during the first quarter of 2024.
However, only 451 of these children have completed their treatment regimen thus far.
Saleh disclosed that the state’s efforts to combat malnutrition commenced in February 2024 following the reception of a shipment from USAID, which included 17,000 cartons of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Foods (RUTF).
Nigeria, according to Jessica Bartholomew, UNICEF’s nutrition facilitator, grapples with the highest number of chronically undernourished children globally.
During her speech on behalf of the agency, Bartholomew emphasized that 11 million children in the country suffer from stunting, with Bauchi State contributing significantly with a 46% stunting rate, 9.5% wasting, and 28.2% underweight, as per NDHIS 2018 data.
She noted the pivotal role of nutrition in fostering human capital growth and urged the State Committee to advocate for the integration of nutrition initiatives into the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Bartholomew stressed the financial burden associated with childhood stunting, noting that it diminishes at least 10% of potential life savings, thus necessitating government intervention and investment in solutions.
Echoing the sentiment, Dr. Martins Jackson, the Nutrition Officer of UNICEF Bauchi Field Office, emphasized the critical need for ongoing education on exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of a child’s life as a crucial strategy in combating malnutrition.
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