Despite concerted efforts to reduce malnutrition among children under five years in Nigeria, a new report has said the country is currently home to the second largest population of malnourished children.

The report was given by TechnoServe at an event tagged “Our Actions Are Our Future: A #Zero Hunger World by 2030 is Possible.”

The report said:

Nigeria faces the biggest burden of under-nutrition in Africa and is home to the world’s second largest population of malnourished children.

 

A survey carried out in 2016/2017 by the National Bureau of Statistics, (NBS) in collaboration with the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) and National Agency for the Control of Aids (NACA) report that underweight prevalence (children who are too thin for their age) increased from 24.2% to 31.5%, stunting prevalence (children who are short for their age) increased from 34.8% to 43.6% while wasting prevalence (children who are too thin for their height) increased marginally from 10.2% to 10.8%.

 

Malnutrition is a condition that occurs when people consistently do not consume or absorb the right amounts and types of food and essential nutrients. Globally, it contributes to nearly half of all child deaths — that is more than three million children each year.