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From Paul Orude, Bauchi
Malnutrition contributes to nearly 45 per cent of deaths among children under five globally, while about 40 per cent of Nigerian children in the same age group are stunted, the Country Director of Nutrition International, Dr Osita Okonkwo, has revealed.
Okonkwo made the disclosure on Thursday evening during a courtesy visit to the Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, following the conclusion of the Multiple Micronutrient Supplementation (MMS) Implementation Research Project in the state on March 5, 2026.
He said the situation reflects chronic under-nutrition during the critical early years of life, adding that more than half of pregnant women are estimated to be anaemic, largely due to deficiencies in essential vitamins and minerals.
“Your Excellency, maternal and child survival remains one of the most critical development priorities for Nigeria and indeed for Bauchi State.
“Nigeria accounts for one of the highest burdens of maternal and child deaths globally.
“Current national estimates indicate that about 512 women die for every 100,000 live births, while the under-five mortality rate stands at approximately 110 deaths per 1,000 live births. This means that far too many mothers and children are still dying from preventable causes. Nutrition plays a major role in this challenge.
“These nutritional deficiencies increase the risk of complications during pregnancy, low birth weight, preterm delivery, and poor child survival outcomes.”
He explained that against this background, Nutrition International, with funding support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, partnered with the Bauchi State Government, the State Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, and the State Primary Health Care Development Agency to conduct the MMS Implementation Research Project over the past three years.
Responding, Governor Bala Mohammed described the visit as a demonstration of the productive partnership between Bauchi State and Nutrition International in their shared commitment to improving the nutritional health of the people, particularly women and children.
