Nigeria Leads Africa Countries Affected By Severe Wasting In 2022
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A new report released by the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund has said Nigeria leads in the country affected by the waste in Africa.
From global data published by the agency, Nigeria ranks fourth behind India, Indonesia and Pakistan respectively.
Other countries are Bangladesh, DR Congo, Ethiopia, Philippines, Niger and South Africa.
Nigeria accounts for 482,590 cases.
The UNICEF reports that about one in five deaths among children is linked to wasting. It says wasting is caused by a lack of nutritious food. Also, recurrence of diarrhoea, malaria and measles causes it. This is because these diseases affect a child’s immunity.
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However, the agency responsible for providing humanitarian and developmental aid to children said wasting is common in countries with humanitarian crises.
UNICEF noted that since 2016 in Uganda, wasting has increased by 60 per cent.
What is wasting?
This is a technical term for children who are too thin for their heights. It results from rapid weight loss or the inability to gain weight.
UNICEF explained that a child who is moderately or extremely wasted has a high risk of death. However, treatment is possible.
The report read in parts:
“Unlike famine or starvation, relatively few people have heard of severe wasting – also known as severe acute malnutrition – even though it affects around 13.6 million children globally under the age of 5.
“Ongoing conflicts and climate-related emergencies meant that this number was already likely to grow. But with so many countries heavily reliant on exports from Ukraine and Russia, the war in Ukraine is threatening to plunge the world even deeper into a food crisis.
“Meanwhile, the price of life-saving ready-to-use therapeutic food is projected to soar in the coming months, placing even more children’s lives at risk”
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The agency concluded:
“The reality is that we already have the knowledge and tools to save hundreds of thousands of lives each year from this excruciatingly painful condition. Ending global hunger and malnutrition won’t happen overnight. But there is plenty we can do right now to stop children dying from severe wasting.”
Source: PUNCH HealthWise
