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
