40 million Nigerian children, others risk stunting by 2050 – Bill Gates

The co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Bill Gates, has revealed that climate change will affect the growth of nearly 40 million children in Nigeria.

He said already about 400 million children are suffering from nutrient deficiencies globally.

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Stunting or being too short for one’s age, is defined as a height that is more than two standard deviations below the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) child growth standards median.

Gates noted that with Nigeria’s vulnerability to climate change, it risks being rated second-highest for food insecurity globally.

He noted that arable land disappearance, pest destruction of harvests, and soaring staple food prices have exacerbated the crisis.

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The impact of climate change on African farms, Gates stated, is more than double the global average, with the poorest farmers bearing the brunt, which in turn exacerbates food shortages, and pushes up food prices.

“Nigeria today has the second highest rate of food insecurity on earth, and climate change is only accelerating the problem,” Gates told Punch.

“We’ve been working with the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation to better understand the climate-induced hunger crisis. By 2050, climate change will condemn nearly 40 million more children to stunting—in addition to the 400 million children who already aren’t getting enough nutrients.”

The billionaire noted that the pace of innovation must match the rapid acceleration of climate change, adding that one innovation, led by Ladidi Bako-Aiyegbusi, the Director of Nutrition at the Nigerian Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, involves fortifying bouillon cubes with vital nutrients.

This initiative, according to Gates,  involves fortifying bouillon cubes with essential nutrients like iron, folic acid, B12, and zinc, which could potentially prevent over 11,000 deaths from neural tube defects and avert 16.8 million cases of anaemia each year in Nigeria

“This could prevent more than 11,000 deaths from neural tube defects, and avert 16.8 million cases of anaemia each year in Nigeria.

“We are working closely with the government and private sector to formalise and expand on bouillon fortification with iron, folic acid, B12, and zinc, so it can do even more good. There are so many promising solutions to improve nutrition. And by embracing them, Nigeria can save many lives.”