• Super Admin
• 06 Mar, 2026

The Civil Society-Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN) has raised alarm over worsening malnutrition in Zamfara State, revealing that the rate of stunting among children has risen sharply from 50.8 per cent in 2018 to 64.2 per cent according to the 2023 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS). CS-SUNN also disclosed that the number of underweight children in the state has increased to 44.3 per cent, while wasting among children remains a major concern. The organisation further revealed that about 84 per cent of children under the age of five in the state are anaemic, while 35.6 per cent of women of reproductive age are also suffering from anaemia. These statistics were disclosed during a press conference held at Ja'iz Hotel in Gusau after a one-day state-level media dialogue and stakeholder engagement on the Child Nutrition Fund (CNF) and the implementation of six months paid maternity leave in Zamfara State. The National Executive Secretary of CS-SUNN, Mr Sunday Okoronkwo, who was represented by Mr Silas Ideva, said the alarming nutrition indicators were being worsened by food insecurity, displacement caused by insecurity, low exclusive breastfeeding rates and poor access to maternal healthcare. According to him, only about 10.8 per cent of births in Zamfara are attended by skilled health personnel, a situation that undermines child survival, learning outcomes and the long-term economic productivity of the state. He also described malnutrition as a critical public health and development emergency in the state despite its vast agricultural and human potential. CS-SUNN therefore called on the Zamfara State Government to prioritise investment in nutrition, describing such action as a strategic economic and security imperative. The organisation noted that evidence shows malnutrition weakens human capital, reduces lifetime earnings and drains up to 11 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in countries with high malnutrition burden. It added that investments in maternal, infant and young child nutrition, particularly during the first 1,000 days of life, would significantly improve health outcomes, cognitive development and productivity. Source: https://thenewsguru.ng/news/stunting-in-zamfara-rises-to-64-2-cs-sunn-raises-alarm/