10,155 North East children died of malnutrition in 5 years –UNICEF
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has said no fewer than 10, 155 children have died of malnutrition in three North-East states of Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa in the last five years.
UNICEF which got the figure from data from both Stabilisation and Outpatient Therapeutic Programme (OTP) Centre, predicted more that the figure might rise significantly as death tolls for the remaining part of the year (August to December) were yet to be collated.
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The data revealed that in the last five years, 1,434,584 children were admitted for malnutrition in both stabilization and OTP centers. It indicated that 1, 222, 134 children were treated and that they recovered, while 20, 530 children were unable to recover. It showed that 74, 811 children defaulted in treatment, while several others were subjected to Multiple Micronutrient Powder (MMNP) which helped in their revival.
Deputy Director, Borno State Nutrition Officer, Abdullahi Madi, who disclosed this at a press briefing on child malnutrition in Maiduguri, Borno State, said the situation was beginning to improve for good, but that there was a need to sustain the momentum.
UNICEF Chief of Field in Maiduguri, Borno State, Samuel Sesay, said malnutrition in the North East had assumed an alarming situation and solicited improved local and international interventions to salvage the situation.
