This document outlines the nutrition situation and key problems in Nigeria, including poor infant feeding practices, energy and protein deficiencies, and vitamin and mineral deficiencies like vitamin A and iron deficiency anemia. It discusses government interventions like policies to promote essential nutrition and control of micronutrient deficiencies. Recommendations include exclusive breastfeeding for six months, eating a variety of foods at each meal, and decreasing consumption of foods high in sugar, salt, and animal fat. The conclusion states that while much is known about malnutrition, more must be done to enact changes to diets and lifestyles.

1. B. N. ALI (MRS.)
NUTRITION DIVISION
FMOH
ABUJA

2. PRESENTATION OUTLINE
• Introduction
- Nutrition Situation in Nigeria
- Key Nutritional Problems
- Causal Analysis and Consequences
- Government Interventions
- Recommendations
- Conclusion

3. INTRODUCTION
Adequate nutrition in the first two years of life is
the “critical window” for achieving survival,
optimal growth & development into adolescence
and adulthood.
Malnutrition results in a weaker immune system
and a higher risk of severe infectious diseases,
including diarrhoea and pneumonia.
Access to sufficient amounts of safe and
nutritious food is key to sustaining life and
promoting good health.
Maternal reproductive status is built at early years
of girl child which subsequently determines
pregnancy outcomes.
Difficult situations-emergencies, low birth

4. INTRODUCTION Contd.
The nutrition situation in Nigeria has over the years
assumed public health importance with malnutrition
accounting for more than 50% of under-five deaths.
Addressing increasing public health problems of diet-
related non communicable diseases is a challenge.
Key nutritional problems as follows:
- Poor Infant feeding practices
- Energy and Protein deficiencies
- Vitamin A deficiency (VAD)
- Iron deficiency Anaemia (IDA)
- Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD)

5. NUTRITIONAL INDICES 1990-
2013
1990 1999 2003 2008 2013
Stunting
43% 46% 42% 41% 37%
Wasting
9% 12% 11% 14% 18%
Underweight
36% 27% 24% 23% 29%
EBF
2% 22% 17% 13% 17%

6. The key problems Contd
Diet related non communicable diseases (DRNCD)
such as obesity, diabetes mellitus, and cardiovascular
diseases are increasing in public health importance in
Nigeria.
About 5 million Nigerians may die of non
communicable diseases by the year 2015, and diabetes
alone is projected to cause about 52% of the mortality
by 2015.
At present, about 8 million Nigerians suffer from
hypertension and 4 million have diabetes.

7. Causes of malnutrition
Insufficient food intake, repeated infectious
diseases and/or a combination of both. It can
degenerate to increased risk to illness and death
as well as a lowered cognitive development.
Multifaceted challenges to malnutrition ranging from
 Basic causes-poverty, Ignorance to food values and
proper food selections due to governance and
institutional weaknesses due to fragmented and
inadequate funding across sectors,
 Underlining causes-food insecurity, inadequate care
and access to health services
 Immediate causes-inadequate food intake and diseases

8. GOVERNMENT INTERVENTIONS
Appropriate Policies and Guidelines in Place
Infant and Young Child feeding Programme
Micronutrient Deficiency Control
Community Management of Acute Malnutrition
Capacity Building
Awareness creation
Advocacy and Resource Mobilization

9. Policies & Guidelines in place:
National Policy on Food & Nutrition
Infant and Young Child Feeding Guidelines, Policy and
Strategic Plan of Action
Micronutrient Deficiencies Control Guidelines
Food-based Dietary Guidelines for Nigerians
Guidelines on Nutritional Care and support for PLWHA
National Operational guidelines on CMAM
Domestication of the BMS Code
National Strategic Plan of Action for Nutrition (2014 -
2019)

10. STRATEGIES
Promotion of essential nutrition intervention as part of
health services & programmes particularly at PHC level
Promotion of nutrition education & services to rural and
urban communities (through eg. home/school/community
gardens for food dietary diversification)
Sustained & regular media campaigns for nutrition
advocacy and public education
Control of micronutrient deficiencies through food
fortification by large and medium scale food industries
Vitamin/mineral supplementation to mitigate nutrition
risks as short-term measure
Promotion of educational, health and nutrition
interventions through the Home Grown School Feeding
and Health Programme, physical exercise

11. •Infant and Young Child Feeding:
•Early initiation of BF,
•exclusive breastfeeding for 6months;
• continued BF for children 6 – 24 months;
•complementary feeding from 6 months;
•Infant Feeding counseling for PMTCT
•Growth Monitoring and Promotion
•Vitamin A Supplementation and treatment for measles;
•Deworming for children ≥12 months & pregnant women
•Prevention and management of child malnutrition (facility- and
community-based)
•Vitamin A Supplementation in post partum period
•Prevention & treatment of iron deficiency anaemia
Nutrition Interventions/actions in IMNCH Strategy

12. CHALLENGES
Poor health behavioural practices
Ignorance
Poverty
Insufficient nutrition education.

13. RECOMMENDATIONS
Breastfeed newborn infants exclusively for the first 6 months
of life, give adequate complementary foods from 6 months
while continuing breastfeeding up to 2 years
At every meal, give variety of foods to ensure adequate meal
Increase consumption of fruits, vegetables, grains and
legumes eg beans and soya beans.
Eat more of foods close to nature and reduce consumption of
refined foods that may predispose one to cancer.
Increase consumption of poultry and fish
Use more fats from vegetable sources

14. RECOMMENDATIONS CONTD
Decrease consumption of foods high in animal fat
Decrease consumption of sugar and food high in
sugar & additives content
Decrease consumption of salt and foods high in
salt content
Drink water as much as possible daily (2.5 to 3L)
Improvement of nutritional status & reduction of
disease burden will enhance protection of human
capital,

15. CONCLUSION
Nutrition problem is not a subject to be studied; it is
a problem to be solved.
We know so much about malnutrition
(undernutrition and overnutrition) and yet we do very
little about it.
We can do a lot by effecting changes in our meals (by
making wise food selections) as well as our lifestyles,
reducing morbidity and mortality rates due to
malnutrition.

16. TIME TO ACT IS NOW