Nigeria, June 2022
- © OCHA
North East Nigeria: over 1.3 million children under five likely acutely malnourished
Report
The acute malnutrition situation in North East Nigeria is classified as Alert (IPC Phase 2) or Serious (IPC Phase 3) in many areas during the current period of January to April 2022 (season of low acute malnutrition), with 1 of the areas analyzed being in IPC Acute Malnutrition (AMN) Phase 1, 8 areas in Phase 2 and 1 in Phase 3. Over 1.3 million children under the age of five are expected to suffer from acute malnutrition between January and December 2022 (based on the GAM by WHZ prevalence estimates). This includes approximately 316,753 severe acute malnutrition (SAM) cases and over one million moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) cases. In addition, over 152,000 pregnant and lactating women will be acutely malnourished and need nutrition interventions.
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IPC Classification Maps
Current - January to April 2022
Projected - May to August 2022
Second projected - September to December 2022
Actions Needed
- Strengthen routine screening, referrals and treatment for SAM and MAM as well as uninterrupted distribution of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Foods (RUTF) and Ready-to-Use Supplementary Foods (RUSF) in LGAs classified as Alert, Serious and Critical.
- Strengthen existing community structures using community health influencers and promoters (CHIPS) to improve behavioural change interventions and preventive services.
- Sustain programs for acute malnutrition treatment, including establishing and improving quality of inpatient care and strengthening Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition (IMAM) and Maternal Infant and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN) coverage.
- The IDP population especially in Borno domains seems to be the most affected by wasting; a specific focus on this sub-population needs to be followed for nutrition activities and reported separately in order to adapt the response based on population-specific needs/vulnerability.
- Scale up both blanket and targeted supplementary feeding programs to improve food intake and as preventive measure for severe acute malnutrition in preparation for the lean season.
- Improve vitamin A supplementation and deworming using the opportunity provided by the Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) week campaigns and other nutrition interventions.
- Advocate for sustained funding for nutrition specific and sensitive programs in the North East to build on the gains so far recorded by partners and government in tackling malnutrition.
- Sustain improved implementation of the seasonal malaria chemoprevention program for under-5 to reduce the malaria burden in this group.
- Improve the delivery of MIYCN promotional services, focusing on quality and coverage as well as on exclusive breastfeeding and appropriate complementary feeding practices.
- Scale up sensitization on prompt health-seeking behaviours, environmental hygiene and potable water (WASH).
- Strengthen and improve child caregivers’ knowledge on effective food preparation methods and utilization.
- Strengthen existing response capacity and resilience in nutrition by government and partners
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