Rise in Severely Malnourished Child Deaths in Northern Nigeria – MSF

The organization’s inpatient facilities have recorded a significant increase in admissions of severely malnourished children with life-threatening complications, exceeding last year’s figures by over 100% in some locations.

MSF’s Country Representative in Nigeria, Dr. Simba Tirima, warned that the situation is alarming and immediate action is needed to prevent further deaths.

The organization called on Nigerian authorities, international organizations, and donors to take immediate action to diagnose and treat malnourished children and engage in sustained, long-term initiatives to address the underlying causes of malnutrition.

The statement noted that MSF’s medical team in Maiduguri admitted 1,250 severely malnourished children with complications in April 2024, doubling the figure for April 2023.

Other facilities in the northeast, northwest, and major cities like Kano and Sokoto are also reporting alarming surges in malnutrition cases.

MSF urged donors and authorities to increase support urgently for both curative and preventive approaches, ensuring that all malnourished children receive the care they desperately need.

The organization emphasized that reducing nutritional support to only severely malnourished children is akin to waiting for a child to become gravely ill before providing care.