MSF Raises Alarm Over Rising Child Malnutrition In Nigeria

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), also known as Doctors Without Borders, has raised concern over the worsening malnutrition crisis affecting children in Nigeria, particularly in the northern region, where over 400,000 new cases were recorded in 2025.

The organisation said the figure was recorded across the 10 northern states where it operates, adding that it places Nigeria at the top of 77 countries where MSF provides humanitarian and medical assistance.

MSF made the disclosure during the public presentation of its 2025 Nigeria Activity Report in Abuja.

According to the Country Representative, Dr Ahmed Aldikhari, MSF teams treated 353,989 children with severe acute malnutrition through outpatient programmes in 2025, while 90,723 children with complications were admitted into stabilisation centres across supported facilities.

He said the figures represent a 20 per cent increase in cases treated and a 15 per cent rise in admissions compared to 2024, noting that the organisation has observed a steady increase in malnutrition since 2022, with 2025 marking the peak so far.

“Malnutrition is not only about lack of food. It is closely linked to preventable diseases such as measles, diphtheria, meningitis and malaria, which weaken children further and push them into severe malnutrition,” Aldikhari said.

He added that conflict, insecurity, inflation, displacement, flooding and drought continue to limit access to food and healthcare in affected communities.

MSF said it is working with government institutions and engaging national leadership to ensure sustained attention to the crisis, while also warning that global donor funding cuts are worsening humanitarian response efforts.

The Medical Activity Manager, Shafa’atu Abdulkadir, said MSF treated 38,753 children for measles, 6,123 for diphtheria, 985 for meningitis, and 341,239 patients for malaria in 2025 across its facilities.

She added that more than 300,000 children were vaccinated against measles, meningitis and diphtheria through MSF-supported immunisation campaigns.

Abdulkadir noted that Nigeria continues to experience seasonal outbreaks of cholera, Lassa fever, meningitis, measles, diphtheria and typhoid fever, stressing that many of these diseases are preventable through vaccination, early diagnosis and improved access to clean water.

MSF said it continues to deploy inpatient and outpatient nutrition programmes, including the use of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF), community screening initiatives, and stabilisation centres for children with severe acute malnutrition and medical complications.

The organisation has called for stronger investment in healthcare systems, improved nutrition programmes, and sustained government action to address the rising crisis.