The Nigerian Government has reported that over four million children in the Northeast and Northwest regions of the country are suffering from malnutrition. This information was disclosed by the Director of the Nutrition Department in the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Ladidi Bako-Aiyebusi, during a five-day meeting held in Keffi Local Government Area of Nasarawa state.
In her opening remarks, Bako-Aiyebusi said the meeting would provide policy directions to guide nutrition issues in Nigeria.
She added that currently, Nigeria faces a severe crisis of triple burden of malnutrition, evidenced by widespread macro and micronutrient deficiency, undernutrition and overnutrition with significant impact on health and socio-economic development.
“The 2021 National Food Consumption and Micronutrient Survey report shows that nearly 4.4 million children in the Northeast and Northwest regions are malnourished.
“Identified causes of malnutrition include inadequate access to food, poor food consumption, improper feeding and caring practices, economic and political structures, low economic status, inadequate health-seeking behaviours and low level of education among the populace,” Bako-Aiyebusi said.
This report comes barely two weeks after the nationwide #Endbadgovernance protests calling for an end to bad and insensitive government policies that have plunged the country into severe and unbearable hunger and hardship over the years.
Despite this situation, West Africa Weekly reported that President Bola Tinubu recently acquired a new presidential jet worth over $100 million, sparking public outrage in addition to the reckless spending of taxpayers’ funds.
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