The Federal Government has said 4.4 million children in the Northeast and the Northwest are suffering from malnutrition.
It noted that the major factors that contributed to the widespread malnutrition in both regions include limited access to food, poor dietary habits, and improper feeding practices.
The government said the situation was exacerbated by broader economic and political challenges as well as low health-seeking behaviours and educational levels among the population.
The Director of Nutrition in the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Ladidi Bako-Aiyebusi, announced this at a five-day meeting of nutrition experts and stakeholders in Keffi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.
She said the situation required collaboration to devise a strategic document that outlines effective advocacy for nutrition in Nigeria.
The five-day meeting was organised in partnership with Civil Society-Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN) and other key partners involved in strategic advocacy for nutrition in the country.
It is expected to achieve a partnership-centered approach to solving nutrition challenges.
Alluding to the 2021 National Food Consumption and Micronutrient Survey report, Bako-Aiyebusi said: “The report shows that nearly 4.4 million children in the Northeast and the Northwest regions are malnourished.
“The causes of this malnutrition are complex, including inadequate access to food, poor food consumption, improper feeding and caring practices, low economic status, and insufficient education among the populace”.
The federal director described the meeting as a crucial opportunity for stakeholders to develop a comprehensive and integrated strategic advocacy process to improve nutrition for children in the regions.
