MSF Raises Alarm Over 74.1% Spike in Malnourished Children in Kebbi -

MSF Raises Alarm Over 74.1% Spike in Malnourished Children in Kebbi

MSF Raises Alarm Over 74.1% Spike in Malnourished Children in Kebbi

Doctors Without Borders, also known as Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), has reported a concerning 74.1% increase in the admission of severely malnourished children across Kebbi State from January to June 2025 compared to the same period in 2024.

The alarming revelation was made by Dr. Hamza Bello, a senior MSF medical official, during a media briefing at the Maiyama Inpatient Therapeutic Feeding Centre (ITFC) in Maiyama Local Government Area.

According to Dr. Bello, a staggering 24,784 children were admitted to ITFCs between January and May 2025, while 107,461 children received care under Outpatient Therapeutic Programmes (OTPs) — a 13% increase from last year. OTPs are primarily designed to manage uncomplicated Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) cases.

Overwhelmed Facilities and Long Travel Distances

Dr. Bello lamented the scale of the crisis, stating that on a single day, nearly 400 children were on admission in one facility. He warned that August may be the worst month, as it historically marks the peak of malnutrition cases in the region.

Despite the crisis, MSF remains the only international NGO currently providing malnutrition treatment in the state. The shortage of actors has left MSF overwhelmed, with some patients travelling up to 100 kilometers to access care.

National Reach and Urgent Needs

In 2024, MSF treated 300,000 malnourished children across Nigeria, operating nutrition programmes in seven states — Kebbi, Kano, Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina, Bauchi, and Borno — with 11 Stabilisation Centers (SCs) and over 30 OTPs.

Dr. Bello urged the Kebbi State government to improve supply and distribution of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF), a vital food supplement for SAM treatment. He also called for stronger Primary Health Care (PHC) systems, better vaccination and malaria control, and community-based interventions backed by donor and government support.

“We need multi-sectoral, multi-actor support to save more lives. Prevention, early intervention, and access to nutrition services must become a priority,” he said.

Mothers Share Testimonies of Hope

Two mothers, Shamsiya Muhammad-Sani from Aliero and Habiba Salihu from Jega LGA, shared emotional accounts of how MSF saved their malnourished infants from the brink of death. They expressed immense gratitude for the free medical care, meals, hygiene supplies, and emotional support they received during their hospital stay.

“We almost lost hope. MSF gave our children life again,” one of the women said, praying for the continued success of the organisation.