Micronutrient: 33.3 Percent of Under-Five-Children stunted – Perm Sec

The Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Mr. Nebeolisa Anako has revealed that 33.3 percent of under five children are stunted in growth going by National Food Consumption and Micronutrient Survey, 2021.

Anako who made this known while delivering his opening remarks Monday at the technical session and launch of the 2021 national food consumption and micronutrient survey report held in Abuja said the prevalence of stunting, wasting and underweight among children under 5 are 33.3%, 11.6% and 25.3% respectively.

His words, “According to the National Food Consumption and Micronutrient Survey, 2021, the prevalence of stunting, wasting and underweight among children under 5 are 33.3%, 11.6% and 25.3% respectively.

“However, malnutrition is influenced by a host of underlying factors related to poverty, including poor diet, food insecurity, poor water, sanitation and health services, which find their roots in factors that can vary from conflict to climate change; from scarce natural resources to high and volatile food prices; from poor governance to demographic growth. This is a huge burden and calls for very deliberate efforts to address” he said.

Continuing, Anako said Nutrition data plays a crucial role in program planning across various sectors, including health, education, agriculture, water, information and social welfare among others.

“Let us remain mindful of the profound impact that nutrition has on every aspect of human life, from physical health to cognitive development, from economic productivity to societal well-being” he noted.

He said the choices we make regarding what we eat directly impact our physical and mental vitality, shaping not only our individual lives but also the collective health of our society.

Also speaking, Director and Head of Social Development, Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Dr. Sanjo Faniran said the findings of the survey will serve as a vital tool for policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders in the field of food and nutrition and provide valuable insights into the current state of our nation’s food consumption, enabling us to design targeted interventions and evidence-based strategies for improving nutritional outcomes.

Speaking on the History of “National Food Consumption and Micronutrient Survey in Nigeria”, Director and Head of Nutrition Department of Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Mrs. L. K. Bako-Aiyegbusi stated the report provides information for evidence-based Policy and Programmatic decisions for national supplementation, fortification, sensitization of appropriate nutrients consumption, and other key nutrition interventions to achieve food and nutrition security in Nigeria.

She also said that it provides important sub-national insights on micronutrient issues which enables more nuanced programming which addresses the unique characteristics of different sub-groups of the population.