Zamfara State’s Crisis in Focus as UNICEF Calls for Immediate Action
UNICEF Raises Alarm: 5.4 Million Children in Northwest and Northeast Nigeria Face Acute Malnutrition
By Anas Gusau
GUSAU, ZAMFARA STATE – At a press briefing held today at the Command Guest House in Gusau, UNICEF Representative Ms. Cristian Munduate highlighted the alarming plight of children in Zamfara State, underscoring a wider humanitarian crisis affecting the northwest and northeast regions of Nigeria.
Grim Statistics Paint a Bleak Picture for Zamfara’s Children
Zamfara State, home to 1.2 million children, faces an unprecedented child survival crisis:
- Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) affects 250,000 children—1 in every 10.
- Wasting impacts 10% of children, and stunting among those under five years stands at 45.2%.
- The neonatal mortality rate is 42 per 1,000 live births.
- Only 21.5% of pregnant women attend the recommended four or more antenatal visits, and institutional delivery rates are a meager 15%.
- Immunization coverage is critically low, with Penta 3 vaccination at just 9.6%.
- Over 700,000 children—62%—are out of school, with 60% of girls married as minors.
- Birth registration remains dismally low at 31.4%, leaving many children invisible to authorities.
A Broader National Challenge
The crisis in Zamfara mirrors the challenges faced by children across Nigeria:
- Over 40% of children under five nationwide suffer from stunting.
- 2.1 million children have never received vaccinations.
- One in four children is out of school, and 75% lack basic foundational skills.
- Almost half (47%) live in income-poor households, while 67% experience multidimensional poverty.
UNICEF’s Call for Urgent Funding and Support
Ms. Munduate revealed that UNICEF requires over $250 million to address the urgent needs in Nigeria’s most vulnerable states, including Sokoto, Zamfara, and Katsina. More than $100 million of this is earmarked for these three states alone to combat malnutrition, enhance healthcare, provide clean water and sanitation, protect children, and improve education.
Critical Targets for Zamfara State:
- 400,000 children under five to receive treatment for SAM.
- 200,000 additional children in the northwest to access Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) in 2025.
- Over 300,000 children in Sokoto and Zamfara to be vaccinated against measles.
- Two million vulnerable people in Zamfara and Sokoto to gain access to medical treatment and nutritional counseling.
UNICEF’s Appeal to Governments
Ms. Munduate urged government bodies at all levels to:
- Expand healthcare services and bolster community health programs.
- Scale up nutrition-focused interventions and promote child spacing initiatives to mitigate rapid population growth.
- Integrate nutrition into primary healthcare services.
- Enhance routine immunization programs to protect children from preventable diseases.
- Promote inclusive education and upgrade school infrastructure to accommodate more children.
“The time to act is now,” Ms. Munduate emphasized. “Together, we can save lives, restore hope, and secure a brighter future for Zamfara’s children and beyond.”
For more details on UNICEF’s initiatives and how to support this critical mission, visit their official website or contact local offices in the affected states.
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