Katsina State, Nigeria— Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has disclosed that malnutrition has claimed the lives of at least 652 children in Katsina State between January and June 2025, amid growing concerns over alarming malnutrition rates among children in the region.
The humanitarian organization also reported that during the same period, more than 10,000 children were admitted to hospitals with severe malnutrition. This distressing statistic sparked initial tensions between MSF and the Katsina State government, but both parties have since aligned on the urgency for immediate, coordinated intervention.
In response, UNICEF and the Katsina State government have launched the 2025 Nutrition Smart Survey as part of a comprehensive, data-driven emergency action plan to combat the crisis.
At a stakeholders’ meeting convened in Katsina for the survey, key participants—including UNICEF representatives, state ministries, health NGOs, donor agencies, and local government officials—reaffirmed their commitment to addressing malnutrition through multi-sectoral collaboration.
Oluniyi Oyedokun, UNICEF Nutrition Specialist at the Kano Field Office, emphasized the significance of the meeting: “UNICEF is supporting the government by funding the smart survey, while Katsina State is leading its execution. The purpose of this gathering is to sensitize all major stakeholders on their roles to effectively tackle malnutrition across the state.”
Dr. Shamsuddeen Yahaya, Executive Director of Katsina State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, highlighted the survey’s role in providing up-to-date information about malnutrition prevalence across the state’s 34 local government areas. Findings from the 2024 survey guided the establishment of 25 Outpatient Therapeutic Points (OTPs) in five most affected LGAs, delivering vital food supplements and treatment to vulnerable children.
Dr. Umar Bello, State Coordinator of the Accelerating Nutrition Results in Nigeria (ANRiN) Project, noted a strategic shift from reactive treatment toward preventive measures. He revealed that ANRiN 1.0 reached three million beneficiaries with micronutrient supplementation and nutrition counselling, while ANRiN 2.0 plans to collaborate with the ministries of Agriculture, Budget and Planning, and Women Affairs to directly address food insecurity challenges.
Other stakeholders from various state ministries and NGOs pledged ongoing support for sustained, coordinated interventions prioritizing vulnerable groups, including children, pregnant women, and nursing mothers, to eradicate malnutrition in Katsina.
By Enoch Odesola | August 8, 2025
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