Keypoints
- A new report reveals 342,919 children under the age of two in Benue State are stunted, representing 25% of the demographic.
- Data shows 699,554 children in the state, approximately 51%, are currently anaemic.
- Exclusive breastfeeding rates in Benue have dropped from 56.8% in 2021 to 39.9% in 2024.
- Only 16% of children aged six to 23 months in the state receive the minimum dietary diversity required for healthy growth.
- Vitamin A supplementation coverage declined from 62% in 2018 to 45.1% in 2024.
Main Story
Benue State is facing a significant malnutrition crisis, with 25% of children under the age of two, totaling 342,919 individuals suffering from stunting.
Dr Faustina Shar, the Benue State Nutrition Officer, disclosed these figures during a Joint Inception and Planning Meeting organized by UNICEF and the Enugu and Benue State Governments.
The report further indicates that over half of the children in this age bracket are anaemic, highlighting a broad public health concern that affects long-term human development and economic productivity.
The data reveals a sharp decline in essential nutritional practices across the state. Early breastfeeding initiation fell from 47.4% in 2021 to 29.4% in 2024, while exclusive breastfeeding also saw a significant drop.
Additionally, maternal health indicators show that 33.2% of pregnant women in Benue do not attend any antenatal care visits, contributing to poor outcomes for both mothers and infants.
Factors such as insecurity, poverty, large family sizes, and harmful breastfeeding beliefs have been identified as primary drivers of these declining trends.
The Issues
- Stunting and anaemia among children lead to poor cognitive development, weak immunity, and low educational attainment.
- Declining rates of Vitamin A supplementation and deworming increase the vulnerability of children to preventable diseases.
- Weak healthcare access and poor road infrastructure hinder the delivery of nutritional interventions to rural communities.
- Insecurity and poor food production methods limit access to affordable, nutritious diets for the majority of the population.
What’s Being Said
- “Nutrition remained a critical component of development,” said Dr Faustina Shar, Benue State Nutrition Officer.
- “Early breastfeeding declined from 47.4 per cent in 2021 to 29.4 per cent in 2024. Exclusive breastfeeding also dropped from 56.8 per cent to 39.9 per cent within the same period,” Shar disclosed.
- “We are committed to improving the nutritional well-being of our women and children,” stated Dr Paul Ogwuche, Benue Commissioner for Health and Human Services.
What’s Next
- The Benue State Government has pledged to implement new strategies discussed during the UNICEF planning meeting to tackle malnutrition.
- Interventions will focus on the first 1,000 days of life, targeting improved maternal nutrition and breastfeeding practices.
- Stakeholders aim to increase coordination across multiple sectors, including agriculture and education, to address the root causes of food insecurity.
Bottom Line
With stunting affecting one in four children under two, Benue State faces a severe malnutrition burden driven by declining breastfeeding rates and poor healthcare access, requiring urgent cross-sectoral intervention.
