The Candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in next year’s presidential election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar said the worsening child-malnutrition in the country was a manifestations of the nation’s cost-of-living crisis.
Atiku in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, noted nearly two million children were reported to be suffering severe acute malnutrition, with only about two in every 10 receiving treatment.
He added that the latest figures by nutrition experts showed that 41.1 per cent of children under five are stunted, with the prevalence in North West rising to 58.2 per cent.
According to him, the figures when considered alongside cost of food, transportation and energy, put pressure on household budgets.
“This is the most heartbreaking face of the cost-of-living crisis.
“Behind every statistic is a Nigerian mother struggling to decide what her children can eat, how much they can eat and how often they can eat.
“A child does not understand inflation figures. A child only knows whether there is food on the table.
“When nutritious food moves beyond the reach of millions of families, the consequences eventually appear in the bodies of our children.
“Today, the country is being confronted with figures that should shock the conscience of every leader,” Atiku stated.
The former vice president noted that National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) put food inflation at 19.57 per cent, even as households continue to contend with high prices accumulated over recent years.
He stated that the World Bank noted higher petrol prices reduce household purchasing power, and as well, affect the prices of other goods and services, particularly transportation.
“We cannot build a strong country on the bodies of hungry children.
“We cannot celebrate economic statistics while mothers are cutting meals and children are denied the nutrition they require to grow,” he added.
Atiku explained that that is why his economic programme placed affordability at its centre.
“When fuel becomes expensive, transporting tomatoes from the farm becomes expensive. Taking rice to the market becomes expensive. Moving children to school becomes expensive. Running the neighbourhood grinding machine becomes expensive. Powering the small shop becomes expensive.
“And eventually, the additional cost arrives at the dinner table,” he stated.
