THE United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, yesterday claimed over 2.5 million Nigerian children were suffering from Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM), warning that 20 percent of the number could die if urgent steps were not taken address the issue.
Chief of Communications UNICEF, Doune Porter, who disclosed this at a two day media dialogue on Child Nutrition with the theme, “Good Nutrition- An Investment for the Future”, said the development was a serious issue that required the attention of both government and all stakeholders in the health sector.
He said a total of $61 dollars was required to treat a child with severe malnutrition under the UNICEF Community- based Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM), stressing that “Without this treatment, it is likely that the child will die. Spending $61 dollars to save a child’s life is cost effective.