The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Bauchi Field Office has expressed concern over the rate of food insecurity at a time when farmers are harvesting produce, saying that the situation might exacerbate the rate of stunting in the country.

Speaking at the 2024 Programme Review and 2025-2027 Workplan Consultation organised by the Bauchi State Ministry of Budget, Economic Planning, and Multilateral Coordination in collaboration with the UN agency, a UNICEF Nutrition Specialist, Philomena Irene, expressed fear that Nigeria, particularly the North East, is battling food insecurity, which poses a threat to children and pregnant women.

Irene explained that data showed that more than 70 per cent of children in Bauchi and Plateau live in poverty.

In Bauchi, according to the Nutrition Specialist, only 23 per cent of mothers take folic acid during pregnancy, a practice she said causes a deficiency of nutrients.

Her words: “More than 70% of children in Bauchi and Plateau are living in severe child food poverty in early childhood. Children living in severe food poverty miss out on many nutrient-rich foods, while unhealthy foods are becoming entrenched in their diets.

“Severe child food poverty is caused by three main drivers: poor food environments, poor feeding practices, and household income poverty.

“The Bauchi and Plateau food and nutrition crisis, increasing inequities and conflicts, and the climate crisis are intensifying severe child food poverty.

“Children living in severe child food poverty have 50 per cent increased odds of suffering from wasting and 34 per cent increased odds of suffering from stunting in early childhood.”

Irene explained further that anaemia and micronutrient deficiencies during pregnancy increase the likelihood of women dying during childbirth and infants being born either stillborn, with low birth weight, dying within their first month of life, suffering from childhood stunting or wasting, or developing health complications into adulthood.

Government officials from Bauchi and Plateau states were in attendance to discuss issues affecting children and women and how to improve funding and appropriate implementation of government policies.