North East leads in malnutrition, latest national survey shows

The report of 2016-2017 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) conducted in the North East region on some key indicators has revealed that the region is facing multiple developmental challenges. ‎According to the survey, the North East region lags behind other regions on under five children mortality, child malnutrition, breastfeeding, vaccination coverage, access to clean water […]

The report of 2016-2017 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) conducted in the North East region on some key indicators has revealed that the region is facing multiple developmental challenges.

‎According to the survey, the North East region lags behind other regions on under five children mortality, child malnutrition, breastfeeding, vaccination coverage, access to clean water and sanitation, use of insecticides treated nets and antenatal care delivery among others.

‎The survey was conducted by the United Nations Children’s Fund ( UNICEF), National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the World Bank, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in collaboration with North East states  and other stakeholders.

Stakeholders at meeting held in Bauchi to disseminate the result of the study ‎expressed concern over malnutrition‎ and other developmental challenges affecting the north east.

The meeting which was attended by key stakeholders and policy makers from the six states of the North east region comprising of Bauchi, Gombe, Adamawa, Borno, Taraba and Yobe states.

According to the report, the region lags behind other regions in almost all the key indicators ‎covered by the survey.

‎Speaking at the side of the stakeholders meeting, an Assistant Director with the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Adeyemi Adeniran said that the essence of the meeting was to disseminate the results to the grassroots through key stakeholders at various levels.

Adeniran who is the National coordinator, 2016-2017 MICS said that the people invited for the meeting are those that can take decisions and are involved in policy formulation at higher levels as such they can influence decisions to be made in order to address challenges.

He called on the stakeholders to study the results of the survey conducted for the region and come up with measures to address the challenges facing the region.

He reminded that each of the states has its peculiar challenge which is common in the region as such there is need for them to come together and address the challenges at state levels individually as well as collectively for the whole region.