Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) killed no fewer than 94 under-five children in Bauchi State in 2019.

This was disclosed by the Deputy Nutrition Officer, Bauchi Primary Health Care Development Agency [BPHCDA], Abubakar Saleh, on Monday.

Saleh stated this in his address in Gombe at a one day Retreat for Relevant Committees in Bauchi State House of Assembly on the Prevention and Treatment of Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM).

The retreat was organised by four consortia namely International Society of Media and Public Health, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, Aisha Buhari Foundation and Network for Health Equity Development.

He said out of 20 LGA’s of the state community-Based Management of Acute Malnutrition is present in only 9 LGA’s.

He explained that based on 2019 CMAM update  “24,133 children were admitted, out which 22,133 recovered, leaving 94 children dead, while 12,66 children defaulted, 84 others were transferred and 311 were not recovered.”

He added,

“Out of 20 LGA of the state. It is only 9 LGA’s that have Community Based Management of Severe Acute Malnutrition centres. Out of 9 there are 21 centres; 3 LGA’s with 5 each and 6 LGA’s have 1 each.”

He added that based on National Nutrition and Health survey 2018 Bauchi rate of stunted children is 45.6 and 28.2.

Meanwhile the Speaker, Bauchi State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Abubakar Suleman, described the Malnutrition issue in the state as alarming.

“Actually the situation of SAM in Bauchi is seriously alarming, having come to know about this issue we as representatives of the people we will go back, sit down and call the people at the ministry so that we can have a round table discussion with them. So that they can point out where the problems are, we will surely do something to turn the situation.” he stated.