The Civil Society Scaling-Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN), a coalition of non-governmental organizations in Bauchi State, underscored the persistent menace of malnutrition as the foremost peril to child welfare in Nigeria.
Addressing the media in Bauchi, CS-SUNN’s secretary, Dabis Mwaike, expressed dismay over the enduring prevalence of malnutrition, despite concerted interventions. Mwaike emphasized the grave implications of malnutrition on child health, survival, and overall development, echoing concerns echoed by global health bodies.
Defined by the World Health Organization as imbalances or deficiencies in nutrient intake, malnutrition exacts a heavy toll, with UNICEF attributing nearly half of all deaths in children under 5 to undernutrition. The heightened susceptibility to infections further compounds the peril.
Highlighting Bauchi State’s grim statistics from the 2018 National Demographic Health Survey, Mwaike revealed staggering figures: a stunting rate of 46%, wasting at 9.5%, underweight at 28.2%, and overweight at 0.5%. These alarming metrics underscore the exigency for immediate action.
Yet, Mwaike lamented the pervasive obstacle of inadequate funding hindering malnutrition mitigation endeavors. Despite this, CS-SUNN remains steadfast in its commitment to combatting malnutrition, reflecting on a decade-long journey of collaborative efforts.
As a vanguard of nutrition advocacy, CS-SUNN has spearheaded nationwide initiatives, uniting civil societies, governmental bodies, development partners, media, and communities in a collective endeavor to address the malnutrition crisis afflicting Nigeria’s most vulnerable.
