An Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), known as Network Health Equity & Development, NHED, disclosed that 2.5 million children below the age of five years suffer from Severe Acute Malnutrition, SAM, in Nigeria.
The State representative of NHED, Dr Garba Ashir, revealed this in a one-day workshop in Bauchi, saying that acute malnutrition is a life-threatening condition affecting millions of children in Nigeria.
According to him, children with Severe Acute Malnutrition are more likely to die than well nourished children.
He said that SAM is most prevalent in the Northern states and is associated with poverty, poor, hygiene, illiteracy, poor diet and food insecurity.
“In recent years, Ready to Use Therapeutic Food, RUTF, has made it possible to effective treat these children with SAM in their communities. This approach known as Community -based Management of Acute Malnutrition CMAM is cost-effective and leads to better survival and treatment of more children”, he added.
He said their goal are prevention and treatment of SAM including CMAM is the mainstream and funded via government of Nigeria, adding that health system, key products and services delivered sustainably at scale to improve the health and development of children.
