By EMMANUEL KUJE, Abuja-
The European Union (EU) has pledged N900 million to combat malnutrition in nine states in Northern Nigeria.
The states benefiting from this intervention include Adamawa, Borno, Taraba, Yobe, Benue, Katsina, Niger, Sokoto, and Zamfara.
According to a statement signed by Mr. Modestus Chukwulaka, Press and Information Officer for the EU Embassy in Abuja, the funding aims to provide humanitarian aid to children and mothers suffering from acute malnutrition.
“The aid will specifically support life-saving activities for over 30,000 children in urgent need of treatment,” Chukwulaka said.
The states of Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe in the Northeast, and Katsina, Sokoto, and Zamfara in the Northwest have an estimated 5.44 million children under five who are acutely malnourished.
Of these, 2 million are projected to suffer from severe acute malnutrition, requiring lifesaving treatment, especially during the peak of the lean season from June to September.
“The nutrition crisis is worsening, driven by ongoing conflict and growing insecurity, leading to prolonged displacement, loss of livelihoods, and reduced access to essential healthcare services,” Chukwulaka noted.
He added that economic pressures and climate-related shocks, such as flooding, as well as suboptimal maternal and child feeding practices, have further compounded the situation.
The EU’s funding will enable the Nigeria Red Cross Society to assist approximately 170,000 households affected by or at risk of malnutrition.
The intervention will include:- vommunity outreach and screening, outpatient care for uncomplicated severe cases using ready-to-use therapeutic food, referral to health centres for specialised care for complex cases
“The Red Cross will expand its health and nutrition interventions while contributing to improving the medium-term resilience of affected families and intensifying efforts in water protection, sanitation, and hygiene,” Chukwulaka added.
