A total of 294, 000 children have been affected and treated for extremely critical levels of malnutrition in the North-West from January until September, according to the conclusions of a survey done by the humanitarian medical organisation Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) / Doctors Without Borders.
This is 43 per cent higher than the number of children treated in that same period in 2023.
The survey was conducted by MSF medical teams responding in seven states spanning northern Nigeria.
A breakdown showed that MSF treated 294,000 children for malnutrition between January – September this year, after a survey was conducted on 2,066 children of three local government areas of Katsina State, in collaboration with Epicentre (MSF’s epidemiology arm) and the Katsina State Ministry of Health.
The survey showed that in some areas, levels of global acute malnutrition have doubled since last year when the situation was already considered dire.
“Aid in this region has never been enough to meet the needs and is now decreasing even further,” the survey said as the MSF drew attention to the immediate additional support needed to avoid a deadlier catastrophe in 2025.
The survey was done in July in the LGAs of Katsina, Jibia and Mashi shows a major nutritional crisis underway with over 30 per cent of children suffering from global acute malnutrition in some areas and severe acute malnutrition rates — the most dangerous form of malnutrition — between 6.8 per cent and 14.4 per cent.
People in these areas are at an extremely critical level of malnutrition according to the integrated food security phase classification for acute malnutrition.
“MSF has continued to see an increase in malnutrition admissions since the survey was conducted.”
The survey has been carried out yearly since 2022 at the same period in the same areas and with the same methodology to estimate the prevalence of acute malnutrition in children aged six months to almost five years of age, the GAM levels in the first survey were 22 per cent.
The nutritional status of children six to 59 months was assessed using a combination of three methodologies: mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC), bilateral pitting oedema, and weight-for-height z-score.
“These survey results are, quite frankly, terrifying. We have seen figures rising steadily for the past couple of years and now we are moving from critical to extremely critical levels. In one area of the state, Mashi LGA, we found that 14% of the children we surveyed were severely malnourished, a prevalence this high is catastrophic.
“We really need to see more, not less action from organisations, otherwise we are going to see children dying in record numbers,” says Dr, Raphael Kananga, MSF Medical Coordinator,” the report said adding that as a result of this situation, MSF, which runs four treatment centres for malnourished children in Katsina state, has provided care to more children this year, in more severe states of malnutrition, of which more had to be hospitalised.
“In total, our medical teams have attended more than 100,000 malnourished children from January until now, which represents a 20 per cent increase compared to the same period last year.”
“Admissions for hospitalisation have increased by more than 50 per cent compared to 2022 and 2023, and more than 800 children could not be saved due to too severe conditions and died in our facilities in Katsina state between January and September 2024.
The projections of a further deterioration in food insecurity in the near future are also very worrying,” the survey found.
Inflation is currently very high in Nigeria, with the devaluation of the local currency continuing.
“Agricultural yields have strongly decreased again this year. The cost of living is increasing, insecurity remains a concern in several parts of the region, and climate events are expected to continue – impacting livestock and crops.
“All of these factors mean that if no additional support is set in place, MSF fears a deadlier catastrophe in 2025.
“However, despite the huge increases in prevalence of global acute malnutrition, for example by over 75 per cent in Jibia LGA, one area surveyed, Katsina state, along with the rest of the northwest region is still not included in the UN’s humanitarian response plan for Nigeria.
“Earlier this year, MSF conducted a mass screening in several areas of Zamfara state and found 27 per cent of children suffering from global acute malnutrition. This is a trend we are seeing across all our nutrition facilities in northern Nigeria.
“Overall, MSF medical teams responding in seven states spanning northern Nigeria have treated 294,000 children for malnutrition between January – September this year.”
Despite this, global funding cuts are reducing organisations’ ability to respond and treat children with malnutrition.
“Insufficient amounts of therapeutic food globally have been a challenge over the last year and are still worsening. In some areas, such as Zamfara, there have only been limited supplies available since March,”
UNICEF has recently launched a global appeal with fears that nearly two million children across 12 countries are at risk of death due to these shortages.
“We have consistently raised the alarm about the escalating malnutrition crisis in northern Nigeria, and the findings of recent surveys confirm our worst fears—conditions have not improved; they have significantly deteriorated.
“This year, our teams across locations such as Kebbi, Zamfara, Katsina, and Maiduguri have been overwhelmed by an unprecedented number of malnourished children requiring urgent care.
“We have utilised every available resource, from overflow tents to spare mattresses, to manage the influx of patients arriving at our hospitals. Without meaningful and immediate action, I fear the situation could worsen dramatically in the coming year.
“We recognise the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare’s recent and ongoing efforts towards tackling malnutrition. If all stakeholders increase funding and ensure a reliable supply of therapeutic food, there is hope that we can save the lives of many children next year.” Dr. Simba Tirima, Country Representative for MSF in Nigeria said.
MSF runs nutrition projects in seven states in Nigeria: Borno, Bauchi, Katsina, Kano, Sokoto, Zamfara and Kebbi. This involves 10 inpatient facilities including those in Maiduguri, and in Katsina city and over 30 outpatient feeding centres across these states to treat children with moderate and severe malnutrition who do not need to be admitted to hospital.
