How Severe, How Many and When – Of the 61 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states included in the IPC Acute Malnutrition current analysis (September – December 2020), seven LGAs were classified in IPC AMN Phase 4 (Critical), 19 LGAs were in IPC AMN Phase 3 (Serious), 21 LGAs were in IPC AMN Phase 2 (Alert) and 14 LGAs were in IPC AMN Phase 1 (Acceptable). The situation is expected to remain stable during the projection period of January - April 2021 (post-harvest) with only one LGA deteriorating from IPC Phase 2 to Phase 3.

However, the situation is expected to significantly deteriorate during the projection period of May - August 2021 (lean season) with 11 LGAs expected to be in IPC AMN Phase 4 (Critical) and 34 LGAs in IPC AMN Phase 3 (Serious). Around 1.15 million children aged 6-59 months are expected to suffer from acute malnutrition during the course of 2021, with more than half of them (605,000) expected to be severely malnourished. Over 123,000 pregnant or lactating women are also expected to suffer from acute malnutrition.

Where – Acute malnutrition is a major public health problem in several LGAs. According to the IPC AMN current analysis, Karasuwa, Machina, Nguru, Yunusari, Yusufari, Geidam LGAs in Yobe state and Nganzai LGA in Borno state are in IPC AMN Phase 4 (Critical). Damboa, Gubio, Kaga, Konduga, Mafa, Magumeri, Monguno, Mobbar, Askira/Uba, Bayo and Shani LGAs in Borno state and Bade, Bursari, Jakusko, Damaturu, Fika, Gujba, Gulani and Nangere LGAs in Yobe are in IPC AMN Phase 3 (Serious). LGAs classified under IPC AMN Phase 2 (Alert) include those in Northern Adamawa, Eastern Borno, Biu, Chibok, Kwaya Kusar, MMC, Jere and Fune, Potiskum and Tarmua in Southern Yobe. According to the projection period of May – August 2021, the acute malnutrition levels are expected to worsen in 36 LGAs to reach IPC AMN Phase 3 or 4.

Why – The major contributing factors of acute malnutrition in all the analysed LGAs include very poor food consumption patterns (both quantity and nutritional quality) and high morbidity rates (diarrhoea and fever) among the analysed populations. Another factor is insecurity, which has displaced many people and prevented the delivery of and access to humanitarian aid. The major contributing factor in the projection periods is the expected further deteriorating security situation leading to decreased food accessibility, possible outbreaks of acute watery diarrhoea, measles, and malaria. The nutrition situation may also be negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on socio-economic factors.

Population estimates for September 2020 - August 2021

Immediate/short term recommendations

• Ensure adequate treatment for all children affected by acute malnutrition in all areas.
• Scale up treatment of acute malnutrition (SAM and MAM) for children in hard to reach areas and areas with low coverage, especially in Yobe and Adamawa states.
• Strengthen the screening and referral pathways, including scaling up of the “mother MUAC’ approach to promote early detection of acute malnutrition.
• Improve the quality programming for IYCF interventions focusing on exclusive breastfeeding, continued breastfeeding and optimal complementary feeding practices using locally available nutritious foods.
• Scale up programmes targeting maternal and young child diets through promotion of household food fortification and cash and voucher programming to improve the proportion of children having a Minimum Acceptable Diet (MAD).
• Improve immunization coverage for measles and polio antigens and Vitamin A and micronutrient powder supplementation.
• Strengthen the integration of WASH interventions in services including water provision, soap distribution and promotion of appropriate hygiene practices.

Medium to long-term recommendations

• Strengthen the integration of CMAM activities into the existing health system including technical capacity building of health workers.
• Scale up livelihood support activities for households by promoting income generating, home gardening and household food security interventions that aim to reduce poverty at household level.
• Adopt a multi-sectoral integrated approach to addres the deteriorating nutrition situation.
• Promote synergy and data collection by stakeholders to provide adequate information for evidence-based IPC AMN analysis.
• For the four inaccessible LGAs with no information for conducting IPC AMN analysis, consider collecting data using the IPC guidance for data collection in areas with limited or no humanitarian access.