In 2024, Plateau State Government committed a whooping sum of US 200,000  dollars to child nutrition fund (CNF), which was matched by the United Nation Children Fund (UNICEF) and secured small quantity lipid nutrition supplement (SQ-LNS) commodities to complement feeding and address malnutrition among children between the ages of 6 to 23 months.

The joint funding which rose to a figure of US 400, 000 dollars enabled the state to procure over 5,900 cartons of SQ-LNS ready for distribution across various primary healthcare in the state soon. What a cheering news!

Unfortunately, Plateau, despite being one of the Nigeria's agricultural hub, has not been shield from the nutrition crisis ravaging the country.

According to the 2023 findings of Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS), nearly half of the children in the state are stunted, with more than 326,000 affected.

Further shocking revelation by MICS said across Nigeria, over 15 million children are stunted, 10 million are wasted, and 12 million are anaemic. A figures which is second to India globally.
In Plateau state alone, 5,800 children suffer from severe acute malnutrition. And the consequences are deadly: weakened immunity, poor brain development, and a high risk of death before the age of five (5).

A Nutrition Specialist from UNICEF Nigeria, Bauchi Field Office, Philomena Irene Silas, during a two-day media dialogue in Jos disclosed "Nigeria ranks number one in Africa for child malnutrition, not because of war like in Sudan or Chad but because of our child population size and systemic health gaps.

She painted a grim picture "31 million Nigerians don't know where their next meal will come from. And among children aged 0-6 months, only one in three is exclusively breastfeed. We're already shortchanging the future", Irene cautioned.

"Plateau's statistics align with this national crisis. 46.4% of children are stunted,4.8% are wasted,.and 22.3% are anaemic. The under-five mortality rate is 105 per 1,000 live births, well above global target.

She stressed that reversing malnutrition requires a shift not just in policy attitude. "This is about our own children. Not someone else but ours. Feeding them right is our first responsibility. Act fast by upscaling awareness to address the menace.
"Start from your kitchen. Choose wisely. That sugary beverage? It is 90% sugar, 1% cocoa. That's not food.

According to the Nutritionist, malnutrition is not incurable. But it is sneaky, it hides behind full stomachs and cultural norms. "Just because a child eats doesn't mean they're nourished," Irene warned.

Hinting on the economic important and development urgency in tackling malnutrition among children aged 6 to 23 months in Plateau State, Irene confirmed that every US1 dollars invested in child nutrition generates a US16 dollars return.

"While the exclusive breastfeeding is vital for children from birth to six months, attention must shift to ensuring nutrient-rich complementary foods are introduced afterward.

"In Plateau State, according to the 2021 MICS, two out of every three children suffer from food poverty, meaning they lack access to the minimum dietary diversity needed for proper growth. Our goal is to mobilize awareness and to faster government and community action to improve child nutrition outcome," she mentioned.
While highlighting the significance consequences of malnutrition on cognitive and physical development, especially in the 6-23 months age range, which falls within the first 1,000 days of life, a scientifically proven window critical to lifelong development.

"Failing to invest in nutrition carries steep costs for families and the country. It cost N21,000 to prevent malnutrition, but more than N190,000 to treat it. The return on investment is clear for every US1 dollars spent on nutrition, we get US16 dollars in economic return," Irene added, citing a research from the World Bank and Lancet Series.

However, World Bank warned that stunting alone can reduce gross domestic product (GDP), a stark reminder that malnutrition is not just a health issue but a national development threat.

We hope and pray that Plateau State Government will redouble its effort in upscaling funding for children nutrition in the state.