MSF raises concerns over increasing malnutrition cases in Nigeria’s North-West

By Samuel Luka, Bauchi

Humanitarian medical organisation, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), also known as Doctors Without Borders has raised fresh concerns over soaring cases of malnutrition in Nigeria’s North-western states of Borno, Katsina, Kano, Sokoto, Zamfara and Kebbi.

MSF which made this known in a press statement on Friday through its Country Representative in Nigeria, Dr. Simba Tirima, noted that a new data shows extremely critical levels of malnutrition in parts of Northwest Nigeria.

According to him, 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.

Dr. Simba Tirima who explained that the Zamfara case is a trend been witnessed across all the MSF’s Nutrition facilities in Northern Nigeria, noted that the organization’s medical teams responding in seven states across Northern Nigeria have treated 294,000 children for malnutrition between January – September this year.

While pointing out that the figure represents 43 percent higher than the number of children treated in that same period in 2023, Dr. Tirima decried that despite the efforts, global funding cuts are reducing organisations’ ability to respond and treat children with malnutrition.

The MSF stated that 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”, the MSF said.

Dr. Simba Tirima who added that MSF has consistently raised the alarm about the escalating malnutrition crisis in Northern Nigeria, said the findings of recent surveys has confirmed the fears that conditions have not improved but 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 utilized every available resource, from overflow tents to spare mattresses, to manage the influx of patients arriving at our hospitals”, the statement disclosed.

Dr. Tirima who commended the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare’s recent and ongoing efforts towards tackling malnutrition, observed that without meaningful and immediate action, the situation could worsen dramatically in the coming year.

He expressed optimisms that if all stakeholders increase funding and ensure a reliable supply of therapeutic food, the hope of saving the lives of many children next year will increase.