Abuja: The International Rescue Committee (IRC) clinic in northern Nigeria has reported a nearly threefold increase in admissions for malnutrition among children. The alarming trend is observed in IRC clinics across the northeast and northwest regions, with expectations of further intensification of malnutrition rates as the lean season progresses. This period, characterized by a gap between harvests, coincides with growing insecurity, climate-related shocks such as severe flooding, and reductions in aid.
According to African Press Organization, the lean season poses significant health risks for children, who are more susceptible to complications like malaria, pneumonia, diarrhea, and respiratory infections. The rainy season contributes to water contamination, leading to cholera outbreaks, while also creating conditions conducive to increased mosquito breeding and disease transmission.
Babatunde Ojei, the Country Director of IRC Nigeria, highlighted the organization’s efforts to combat acute malnutrition. The IRC operates in 7 hospitals and 65 community facilities across Nigeria, and in 2024, they provided treatment for acute malnutrition to over 133,000 children under the age of five. The IRC is at the forefront of implementing innovative, simplified approaches to treat acute malnutrition, ensuring that more children receive life-saving treatment using available resources.