51% of Children, 29.47% of Women of Reproductive Age Anaemic
Exclusive Breastfeeding Rate Falls to 39.9%
Benue State is dealing with a serious child malnutrition crisis. Recent data shows that 342,919 children under two are stunted, which is 25 percent of the state’s 1.37 million children in this age group.
Dr. Faustina Shar, the Benue State Nutrition Officer, shared these statistics on Wednesday at a two-day meeting focused on preventing malnutrition in the first 1,000 days of life.
UNICEF organized the event with the Enugu and Benue State Governments, supported by the United States.
Shar said that anaemia is common, affecting 699,554 children, or 51 percent of the total, and nearly 30 percent of women of reproductive age.
She also raised concerns about falling breastfeeding rates, which dropped from 56.8 percent in 2021 to 39.9 percent in 2024.
Shar explained that “Nutrition is still a critical component of development.”
She described malnutrition as a major public health problem that harms infant and maternal health, weakens immunity, and limits long-term development.
She said poverty, lack of nutritious food, harmful beliefs about breastfeeding, insecurity, and poor healthcare are the main causes of the crisis.
The numbers are worrying. Only 16 percent of children aged 6 to 23 months get enough variety in their diet, and just 36.8 percent eat often enough for healthy growth. Vitamin A coverage dropped from 62 percent in 2018 to 45.1 percent in 2024. Only 21.7 percent of children aged 12 to 59 months were dewormed in recent health programs.
Benue’s Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr Paul Ogwuche, called the situation “deeply concerning.”
He promised that the government will implement the strategies discussed at the meeting to improve nutrition and health care.
“We are committed to improving the nutritional well-being of our women and children,” he said, and thanked UNICEF and the U.S. government for their support.
Juliet Chiluwe stressed the importance of investing in children during the first 1,000 days of life, calling it critical to lifelong health and productivity.
She reaffirmed UNICEF’s commitment towards supporting Benue and Enugu states in tackling malnutrition and praised both governments for their political will.
Officials are calling for quick, coordinated action from everyone involved, including the government, health workers, and the community, to help reverse these worrying trends.
They urge partners to increase support and make nutrition a top priority, warning that not addressing malnutrition now could have long-term effects on the state’s future.
