Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has issued a warning regarding a significant spike in child malnutrition throughout Kebbi State. According to a report shared by Field Communication Officer Abdulkareem Yakubu, the medical organization has observed a concerning rise in severe cases between 2024 and 2025, which threatens to increase child mortality rates in the region.
Stuart Alexander Zimble, the MSF Nigeria Country Coordinator, emphasized that malnutrition is a primary driver of death for children younger than five in the area. Data from UNICEF suggests that approximately 100 children in this age group pass away daily in Kebbi, with nearly half of these fatalities connected to nutritional deficiencies. This crisis is exacerbated by high rates of stunting, malaria, and extremely low vaccination rates, as only 7.4 percent of children under two have received full immunizations.
After prioritizing only the most severe cases in September 2024, MSF saw a 41 percent increase in outpatient treatments and a 39 percent rise in inpatient admissions as moderate cases worsened. To combat this, the group is launching a preventive program using a locally sourced supplement known as Tom Brown, composed of sorghum, soya beans, and groundnuts. The initiative aims to support 16,000 children in Jega and Maiyama by the end of 2026. MSF is urging government and humanitarian partners to bolster community-based nutrition efforts to address the compounding impacts of insecurity and poverty on the state’s health infrastructure.
