Yobe, UNICEF to scale up programmes, tackle malnutrition

The Yobe State government and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO) plan to scale up programmes to ensure appropriate nutrition services in the state.

Data from nutrition programes across Yobe State indicates that the number of severely malnourished children with and without medical complications admitted from January to March 2024 increased by 56 per cent compared to the same period last year.

Already, comprehensive nutrition services including detection and treatment of acute malnutrition, Maternal Infant and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN) counseling and Multiple Micronutrient Powder (MNP) supplementations, Vitamin A, deworming drugs and therapeutic Zn supplementation were integrated into health facilities.

Executive Secretary, Yobe State Primary HealthCare Development Board, Dr Babagana Machina, disclosed this at a Media Dialogue on Child Malnutrition in Northeast organised by the Child Rights Bureau (CRIB) of the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation in collaboration with the UNICEF in Maiduguri, Borno State.

He stated that the high levels of acute malnutrition have persisted for the sixth consecutive year aggravated by acute food insecurity with a widening food consumption gap; high prevalence of measles and other infectious diseases; limited access to basic health, hygiene, and sanitation services: and conflict-induced displacements.

Machina noted that the prevalence of acute malnutrition in Yobe State follows a seasonal trend, peaking during the lean season (May – September), adding that the major contributing factors driving the current situation in the state are poor food consumption patterns in terms of diversity, a high prevalence of child morbidities such as fever/malaria and diarrhea, and poor hygiene practices.

“According to the 2023 Lean Season Nutrition & Food Security Surveillance (NFSS) conducted across Yobe State, the prevalence of acute malnutrition as assessed by MUAC and/or oedema was highest in Northern Yobe domain (11.3per cent) followed by central Yobe (8.6per cent) and southern Yobe (6.5 per cent).

“The interconnected nature of food insecurity and malnutrition is evident, with malnutrition being the most severe consequence of food insecurity. According to the Cadre Harmonisé (CH Food Security and Nutrition Analysis) report of March 2024, 14 local councils were classified in Phase 3 (Crisis), and 3 in IPC AMN Phase 2 (Under Pressure). This indicates that over 1.1 million people in Yobe State are likely to be food insecure, significantly contributing to the malnutrition rate in the state”.

The Executive Secretary said a community-led participatory MIYCN approach has been initiated in 17 councils to address critical nutrition issues through social and behavioural change communication, promote breastfeeding practices, complementary feeding for infants after the age of six months, and improved hygiene practices including hand washing in Yobe state

Machina said that the inauguration of local councils’ committee on Food and Nutrition is pertinent to improving nutrition and health interventions, adding that government at all levels should improve on adequate logistic support for programme monitoring and supportive supervision.

The Executive Chairman, Adamawa State Primary HealthCare Development Board, Dr Suleiman Saidu, said the prevalence of acute malnutrition in the state remains acceptable.

Bashir disclosed the multiple factors contributing to the poor nutrition situation as protracted conflict, food insecurity, economic pressures, extreme weather events like flooding, acute watery diarrhea (AWD)/cholera and measles outbreaks.

He stated that the major challenge is that few partners are preventing malnutrition in the state, saying that there is a lack of support for supportive supervision, inadequate routine drugs for Severe Acute Malnourished Children especially in Outpatient therapeutic programmes (OTPs), inadequate number of stabilisation centres (SCs) Stock out MNP in the State Area of Support.

He called on humanitarian and development partners to adopt preventive aspects of malnutrition and allocate funds for supportive supervision in the state.

“There is a need to strengthen routine screening, referrals and treatment for SAM and MAM, ensure uninterrupted supply of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Foods (RUTF), Small Quantity Lipid-based nutrient Supplement (SQ-LNS) and Multiple Micronutrient Supplement for Pregnant mothers in LGAs classified as alert and serious.

“We need to sustain programmes for acute malnutrition treatment, including establishing and improving quality of inpatient care and strengthening Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition (IMAM) and Maternal Infant and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN) coverage”, he added.

Bashir advocated the establishment of both blanket and targeted supplementary feeding programmes to improve food intake and as a preventive measure for severe acute malnutrition, especially in Madagali in preparation for the lean season, improved vitamin A supplementation and deworming using the opportunity provided by the Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) week campaigns and other nutrition interventions.