Kano records 51.9% child stunting rate, nutrition expert raises alarm

The Chairman of the Institute of Dietetics in Nigeria (IDN), Kano State Chapter, Dr. Auwal Musa Umar, has raised serious concern over the high rate of malnutrition in Kano State, calling on government, media and other stakeholders to join hands to address the challenge urgently.

Dr. Umar made the call in an exclusive interview with SolaceBase, where he explained that malnutrition remains one of the most critical public health problems affecting children in the state, particularly those under five years of age.

He said the institute is a professional body that brings together nutritionists and dietitians across the country. He added that he currently works with the Kano State Ministry of Health as a Senior Nutrition Officer and Assistant State Health Educator.

Explaining the concept of nutrition, Mr. Umar said it is the scientific study of how food is ingested, digested, absorbed and utilised by the body to maintain health. He noted that proper nutrition requires adequate intake of both macronutrients and micronutrients, warning that any deficiency, excess or imbalance of nutrients leads to malnutrition.

According to him, malnutrition is broadly classified into undernutrition and overnutrition, with undernutrition being the most prevalent in Kano State. He said many children suffer from stunting, wasting and being underweight, conditions that have long-term consequences on physical growth, brain development and overall body function.

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Dr. Umar cited data from the National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) 2023–2024, which shows that 51.9 per cent of children under five in Kano State are stunted, compared to 12.1 per cent in Rivers State. He described the figure as alarming and a reflection of chronic malnutrition in the state.

Identifying the causes of malnutrition, the nutrition expert pointed to poor nutrition knowledge, unhealthy eating habits, unsafe water and poor sanitation. He explained that, despite having access to food, many households fail to consume balanced diets, often combining foods from the same group rather than diversifying their meals with proteins, vegetables, and fruits.

SolaceBase reports that he also noted that lack of access to clean water and poor hygiene contribute to diseases such as diarrhoea and vomiting, which further worsen nutritional status, especially among children.

On solutions, Dr. Umar urged the government to prioritise nutrition by employing more qualified nutritionists and dietitians in the health sector. He stressed that nutrition is multi-sectoral and requires collaboration between the health, agriculture and information sectors.

He further called on media organisations to intensify public awareness through programmes, jingles and community outreach on healthy eating practices, while urging the government to support farmers with modern farming methods to ensure year-round food availability.

According to him, strengthening agriculture, improving nutrition education and deploying qualified professionals are key to reducing malnutrition in Kano State.