Malnutrition crisis deepens in Taraba communities

A severe malnutrition crisis, as of the time of filing this report, is ravaging the communities of Iware and Sunkani in the Ardo-Kola local government area (LGA) of Taraba State, leaving hundreds of children grappling with life-threatening complications such as stunted growth, weakened immune systems, and high mortality rates.

Health experts, who spoke with our correspondent in the affected communities, are not only raising alarms but also calling for urgent government intervention and coordinated efforts to address the crisis.

Speaking, the nutrition focal person overseeing health facilities in Iware and Sunkani, Talatu Haruna, reported a grim escalation in malnutrition cases in the council.

According to her, 235 cases were recorded in Iware last year, resulting in five deaths, while Sunkani saw 125 cases with four fatalities. She warned that child deaths this year could approach 500 as many families fail to seek timely medical help.

“Children’s lives could be saved with early intervention, but instead, they are being buried. This tragedy is avoidable,” Haruna lamented, pointing to cultural barriers, such as husbands restricting their wives’ access to healthcare, as worsening the crisis.

Efforts by NGOs like the Amatakhitswen Vulnerable and Less Privileged Foundation to transport severely malnourished children to the Federal Medical Centre in Jalingo were said to have provided some relief. However, the foundation’s Executive Director, Wabuji Ishaku Adda Ali, stressed that these initiatives are insufficient without government funding and action.

Fizat Ibrahim, a mother of five who claimed to have lost three children to malnutrition, joined calls for urgent government intervention to prevent further tragedies.

Also, on her part, the Head of Nutrition and Dietetics at Taraba State Specialist Hospital, Grace Stephen, revealed that Taraba ranks third in the Northeast for malnutrition, with 45.5% of children experiencing stunted growth. She cited poverty, food insecurity, poor feeding practices, and lack of access to nutritious food as key drivers of the crisis.

“The prevalence of malnutrition has resulted in increased child mortality, poor cognitive development, and delayed milestones,” Stephen explained, highlighting the devastating impact on under-five children.

Disturbed by the development, UNICEF’s Bauchi Field Office Nutrition Officer, Philomena Irene, urged the Taraba State government to allocate counterpart funding to the Child Nutrition Fund (CNF), introduced in 2022 to combat malnutrition in Taraba.

“The CNF provides therapeutic food, micronutrient supplements, and essential interventions for children and pregnant women. Investing in it is both necessary and a smart choice,” Irene said, noting that the initiative could benefit up to 350 million children and women annually by 2030.

In response, the state governor, Dr. Agbu Kefas, was observed to have launched a campaign to eradicate malnutrition and activated a nutrition committee led by the Commissioner of Health, Dr. Bodiya Buma.

The committee, as gathered by The Guardian, aims to tackle the root causes of malnutrition, including poverty and food insecurity, through partnerships with local and international organisations.

“Our administration is determined to protect, support, and provide for our people,” the governor affirmed, promising swift action.

Various experts who expressed concern over the ugly development stressed that addressing the crisis requires a collective effort, including government funding, community involvement, and support from development partners.
“When all stakeholders come together, the results can be transformative,” Talatu summed up.