The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) has disclosed that more than 700,000 children in north-east Nigeria will need treatment for acute wasting in 2023.
This was contained in an issued statement on Monday by the UNICEF representative in Nigeria, Cristian Munduate.
He said the agency has partnered with the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid (ECHO) to tackle issues of waste and disease outbreak in conflict areas in the North-East.
Munduate said the agencies inaugurated a programme, which will target about 88,000 people, as well as nearly 50,000 children battling acute malnutrition in Yobe, Adamawa and Borno states.
She said the programme will run for one year, and will empower mothers and caregivers on how to identify wasting in their children.
The UNICEF representative commended ECHO for the support, adding that women and children in conflict areas should also enjoy essential services.
Children and women in the North-East region need not continue being deprived of fundamental survival services. We must work relentlessly to eradicate wasting and prevent needless deaths among the countrys most disadvantaged individuals, she added.
We are profoundly grateful for ECHOs support, which will enable us to reach the most vulnerable children. This means fewer deaths and more healthy children. It also ensures our clinics will consistently have essential medications and micronutrients to enhance child survival rates.
