MSF laments increase in malnutrition cases in Bauchi

By Beatrice Gondyi

Medecins Sans Frontiers (MSF) has lamented an upsurge in admissions for malnutrition in Bauchi State.

The MSF in a meeting on Thursday in Bauchi emphasized the need for parents to use preventive measures in curbing malnutrition in children.

The organization has been providing medical care to some communities in Bauchi State.

Mrs. Rabi Adamou, who is the Bauchi State project coordinator, said this during a programme held at the Bagari Suites, on Yelwa road, Bauchi.

Adamou said that MSF had seen rates of malnutrition admission rise on average of 40% from the same period last year, because over 5787 and 17223 of children were admitted in the ITFC and three local ambulatory therepeutic feeding centers (ATFCs).

He said that the team had been supporting malnourished children before they needed to be admitted to an in-patient hospital between January-June 2024.

He said the number of admissions was 127% and 123% higher than during the same period in 2023.

According to the Bauchi State project coordinator, Mrs. Rabi Adamou: “We are concerned by the catastrophic increase in malnutrition admissions we have seen in the state in the first half of 2024. Although there may be many factors compounding this increase in admissions, the numbers we are seeing are incredibly high.”

Adamou further said that “We are just entering the peak season for malnutrition and our facilities are over capacity and having to expand.

“Despite the collective efforts, many challenges remain like limited access to healthcare, number of qualified medical staff in health facilities, provisions of medications and ready to use therapeutic foods which are essential to treat children with malnutrition. It is crucial that Bauchi State representatives, national and international stakeholders work together and expand response to prevent further increase in numbers in years to come.”

Speaking during the programme, Nathalie Avril who is the Nutrition advisor to the Medecins Sans Frontiers (MSF) said that their team had been Supporting health system in Bauchi State since 2001 by responding to the outbreak of the diseases such as Cholera, dephtheria and lassa fever.

“Since 2022, MSF has been responding to the huge numbers of children suffering from malnutrition and currently runs 250 bed ITFC and an Inpatient Paediatric Department (IPD) in Kafin Madaki general hospital. We also operate in three (3) ATFCs in Kafin Madaki, Kafin Liman and Miya Primary healthcare centers.”

He added that “New community level activities are planned. Integrated Community Case Management (ICCM), which aims to expand on the existing community approach and include the treatment of malnutrition at the community level.

“This will be piloted in eight villages in Miya, starting in mid of July, MSF added malnutrition to the conventional ICCM activities which include Malaria, Diarrhoea and malnutrition diagnosis to respond to the increasing number of admission for malnutrition in the region.”