Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has raised alarm over the worsening child malnutrition crisis in Kebbi State, warning that thousands of children are at risk as cases of severe acute malnutrition continue to rise across the state.
This was contained in a press statement signed by Abdulkareem Yakubu, Field Communication Officer, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), and made available to DAILY POST on Wednesday.
According to the statement, the international medical humanitarian organisation recorded a sharp increase in severe malnutrition cases among children between 2024 and 2025, prompting concerns about rising child mortality in the north-western state.
MSF Nigeria Country Coordinator, Stuart Alexander Zimble, said malnutrition remains one of the leading causes of death among children under the age of five in Kebbi State.
“Malnutrition remains alarmingly widespread in Kebbi State and is a leading cause of death among children under five. Authorities and humanitarian actors must urgently increase their support to prevent further avoidable deaths,” he said.
Data cited by the organisation from UNICEF indicate that an estimated 30 newborns and 100 children under five die daily in Kebbi State, with about half of those deaths linked to malnutrition.
The situation is further compounded by high rates of stunting, malaria infections and low vaccination coverage, with only 7.4 per cent of children under two years fully immunised.
MSF noted that after suspending admissions for children with moderate acute malnutrition in September 2024 to focus resources on severe cases, the consequences quickly became evident.
The organisation recorded a 41 per cent increase in severe malnutrition cases treated at outpatient facilities and a 39 per cent rise in inpatient admissions.
“We sadly observed that children who initially presented with moderate malnutrition deteriorated and later returned with severe, often life-threatening symptoms,” Zimble explained.
In response to the worsening situation, MSF has launched a new preventive nutrition initiative centred on Tom Brown, a locally produced food supplement made from sorghum, soya beans and groundnuts. The programme aims to support children with moderate acute malnutrition before their condition worsens.
The organisation plans to distribute about 20,000 kilograms of the nutritional flour blend in Jega and Maiyama Local Government Areas, targeting children between six months and five years of age.
MSF estimates that more than 16,000 children will benefit from the initiative by the end of 2026.
The organisation also called on government authorities, development partners and humanitarian agencies to invest more in community-based nutrition programmes, warning that insecurity, poor access to healthcare, climate-related challenges and declining livelihoods continue to worsen the humanitarian situation in Kebbi State.
MSF said the programme’s progress will be closely monitored, with plans to expand it to other parts of the state if it proves successful.