At least 25 nursing mothers from Bauchi LGA have received training on tackling childhood malnutrition using locally available foods, as part of efforts to address the state’s rising nutrition crisis.
The one-day training, held on Saturday, was organised by the Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance (CHAMPS) project of the College of Medical Sciences, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi.
The session featured practical demonstrations on preparing balanced meals from common ingredients, identifying signs of acute malnutrition, and managing affected children within households.
Dr. Abubakar Sari, Lead Data-to-Action Officer for CHAMPS, said the programme was informed by reports from Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), which identified Bauchi among states with high cases of acute malnutrition.
“Participants will take this knowledge back to their communities to multiply the impact. Malnutrition is preventable, but only if families understand how to use the food already around them,” he said.
Ibrahim Ladeh, a dietitian at ATBU Teaching Hospital, highlighted the nutritional value of many local food items often neglected in households. He warned against the excessive use of preservatives, linking them to heightened cancer risks.
“Parents must pay attention to the nutrition of their children, especially during their early years. Exclusive breastfeeding, which provides all the nourishment a child needs for the first six months, remains crucial,” he said.
Two participants, Jamila Dahiru and Azumi Bala, praised the initiative, pledging to use the knowledge gained to improve the well-being of their families and share lessons with other mothers in their neighbourhoods.
Bauchi, like many states in northern Nigeria, is grappling with high rates of child malnutrition. UNICEF estimates that nearly 3.5 million children across Nigeria suffer from severe acute malnutrition, with over 400,000 at risk of death if untreated.
In Bauchi, MSF has flagged repeated surges in cases, citing poverty, food insecurity, and inadequate healthcare as key drivers. Health experts say such community-level interventions, when paired with stronger government investment in nutrition and healthcare, could significantly reduce preventable deaths among children under five.
