By: Bunmi Yekini
The malnutrition crisis in Nigeria’s Zamfara state has reached alarming levels, with one in four children under the age of five found to be malnourished in the Shinkafi and Zurmi areas. A mass screening conducted in June by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in partnership with the Ministry of Health uncovered that 27 percent of the 97,149 children screened were suffering from acute malnutrition, with five percent facing life-threatening severe acute malnutrition. These figures far exceed the critical level threshold set by the World Health Organization (WHO), underscoring the urgency of the situation.
MSF has raised the alarm, urging health authorities, international organizations, and donors to significantly ramp up their response to the escalating crisis in Zamfara and across Northwest Nigeria. The region is currently excluded from the United Nations Humanitarian Response Plan, a gap that MSF says must be addressed immediately to prevent further loss of life.
‘Severe Shortage of Essential Therapeutic Food‘
The screening also revealed that 22 percent of the children were moderately malnourished. However, a severe shortage of nutritional supplies, particularly ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF), is hindering efforts to treat these children. UNICEF, the primary supplier of RUTF, halted deliveries earlier this year, leaving health workers unable to provide the necessary treatment to prevent moderate cases from worsening.
“The screening results from Shinkafi and Zurmi are nothing short of alarming, revealing a catastrophic malnutrition crisis across Northwest Nigeria,” said Abdullahi Mohammad, an MSF representative in Nigeria. “The response to this overwhelming disaster is grossly insufficient. With malnutrition rates soaring beyond critical levels and no immediate treatment available for moderate acute malnutrition apart from at MSF facilities, we’re effectively letting more children fall into life-threatening conditions. It is crucial we ensure every child receives the medical care they desperately need.”
‘MSF Facilities Overwhelmed as Admissions Surge‘
MSF operates four inpatient and 17 outpatient facilities across Zamfara state, in areas including Shinkafi, Zurmi, Gummi, and Talata Mafara. From January to July 2024, MSF treated over 7,000 children for malnutrition, a 34 percent increase compared to the same period in 2023. In the Shinkafi and Zurmi areas, where the recent screening took place, the increase in malnutrition-related admissions is even more staggering, with a 50 percent rise over the same period.
At the Gummi medical facility, admissions in July 2024 nearly doubled compared to the same month last year. This surge in cases is stretching the capacity of MSF’s facilities and staff, underscoring the urgent need for more resources and expanded health services across the state.
‘Health Crisis Worsened by Disease and Insecurity‘
In addition to malnutrition, children in Zamfara are facing a deadly combination of infectious diseases. MSF teams have treated at least 5,700 cases of measles in the state so far this year. Diseases such as measles, malaria, and acute watery diarrhea not only compromise children’s health but also worsen their nutritional status, creating a vicious cycle that raises the risk of death. Malnutrition, in turn, makes children more vulnerable to these illnesses.
The health crisis is compounded by the widespread violence and insecurity that have plagued Zamfara for years. Communities face high levels of violence and are often too scared to travel to healthcare facilities. Of the approximately 700 healthcare centers in Zamfara, only around 200 are functional, and healthcare workers often struggle to reach the remaining centers due to the security situation.
“When I first brought my son into the hospital, I didn’t know if he would survive,” said Hafsat Lawal, a mother whose child is being treated for malnutrition at an MSF facility. “Back at home, because of the insecurity, we don’t have food. The prices of food have more than doubled. If we had money, we would have bought some grains, but we cannot.”
‘Urgent Calls for a Coordinated Humanitarian Response’
MSF is calling on Nigerian health authorities, international organizations, and donors to urgently scale up their response to the malnutrition crisis in Zamfara and across the wider Northwest region. The organization is also urging UNICEF to immediately resume its supply of RUTF to ensure that malnourished children receive the treatment they need before their condition worsens.
“The lives of thousands of children are hanging in the balance,” said Mohammad. “This crisis is not only about malnutrition, but also about ensuring that vulnerable children can access healthcare, food, and safety in the midst of widespread insecurity. We must act now to prevent more children from dying.”
MSF has emphasized the need for the expansion of healthcare facilities, ensuring that more hospitals can offer the inpatient care necessary to save malnourished children’s lives. With the Northwest region’s humanitarian needs largely neglected, the organization says a coordinated response is vital to avoid further catastrophe.