The United Nations Fund for the Nation has said that Nigeria is the country with the largest burden of malnourished children in Africa.
The international agency revealed this on its website on Tuesday, adding that only two out of 10 children currently affected have access to treatment.
He said that with an estimate of two million children in Nigeria who suffer from severe acute malnutrition, the most populous black nation in the world has the second highest number of atrophied children in the world.
“Nigeria has the second highest load of atrophied children in the world, with a national prevalence rate of 32 percent of children under five years.
“It is estimated that two million children in Nigeria suffer from severe acute malnutrition (SAM), but only two out of 10 children are currently achieved with treatment.
“Seven percent of women of fertile age also suffer from acute malnutrition,” he said.
UNICEF, according to Channels Television, described malnutrition as a direct or underlying cause of 45 percent of all deaths of children under five children.
He explained that exclusive breastfeeding rates had not improved significantly during the last decade, with only 17 percent of breastfeeding babies exclusively during their first six months of life.
“Only 18 percent of children from six to 23 months receive the minimum acceptable diet,” he added.
In addition, he explained that the states in northern Nigeria were the most affected by the two forms of malnutrition: stagnation and wear.
He also said that the high rates of malnutrition raised important public health and development challenges for the country.
UNICEF added: “The delay in delay, in addition to a higher risk of death, is also linked to poor cognitive development, reduced performance in education and low productivity in adulthood, everything that contributes to economic losses that represent up to 11 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP).
“Our goal is to ensure that women, children and adolescents, particularly in vulnerable and private areas, benefit from the greatest access and use of quality and information services to prevent and treat malnutrition, even in emergencies.”
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