Nigerian Govt Raises Alarm Over ‘Triple Burden’ of Malnutrition

The federal government has sounded the alarm over Nigeria’s “triple burden” of malnutrition, undernutrition, overnutrition, and micronutrient deficiencies, at the Nigeria Health Watch Roundtable in Abuja.

Ladidi Bako-Aiyegbusi, Director of Nutrition, and Daju Kachollom, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, warned that diets low in nutrients, mainly consisting of staples like maize, cassava, and rice, contribute to stunting in 40% of children under five.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has warned that unless urgent action is taken, 420,000 children could die out of the 3.5 million currently battling severe acute malnutrition in Nigeria.