Dangote Foundation’s plan to fight malnutrition in Africa

The CEO of the Dangote foundation, Zouera Youssou says Nigeria's malnutrition rate is undermining progress towards improving child health and survival, and is putting the brakes on economic development.

Wed, 08 Nov 2017 12:11:49 GMT

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AI Generated Summary

The severity of malnutrition crisis in Nigeria, particularly in the northern region, where 11 million children are chronically malnourished and two and a half million are at risk of severe malnutrition, underscores the urgent need for intervention.
The critical importance of the first thousand days of a child's life in determining their future health and development highlights the necessity of proper nutrition during this period to prevent irreversible cognitive and physical damage caused by malnutrition.
Limited access to therapeutic food for severely malnourished children, exacerbated by resource constraints and competing global priorities, has led to a high recidivism rate, necessitating targeted interventions like the Dangote Foundation's initiative to break the cycle of malnutrition and poverty through comprehensive support programs.

As the world battles the global pandemic, a silent crisis continues to unfold in Nigeria as 11 million children are chronically malnourished, with two and a half million of them teetering on the brink of severe malnutrition, a condition that could be deadly. Zouera Youssou, the CEO of the Dangote Foundation, highlighted the dire situation in the northern part of the country, where malnutrition rates are alarming. She emphasized that the first thousand days of a child's life are crucial to their future development, underscoring the need for proper nutrition during this critical period. Malnutrition not only stunts physical growth but also hampers cognitive development, with long-lasting repercussions for the affected children. The vicious cycle of malnutrition perpetuates as malnourished mothers tend to have malnourished offspring, perpetuating poverty, disease, and ignorance. Malnutrition is the leading cause of mortality among children under five in Nigeria, undermining efforts to tackle other common childhood illnesses like malaria and pneumonia. Despite past efforts by NGOs and aid organizations, the issue persists, with only a fraction of severely malnourished children receiving essential therapeutic food due to limited resources and competing priorities. The Dangote Foundation aims to intervene in this critical space by providing essential support to severely malnourished children, ensuring access to therapeutic food, and empowering families through livelihood programs to break the cycle of intergenerational malnutrition and poverty.