Nutrition Programs Bring Hope to Jigawa Communities Facing Child Hunger

It was 11 a.m., and the sun was shining brightly over Kyaurawa, a remote village in the Birnin Kudu Local Government Area of Jigawa State. Along the rough path, dry bushes surrounded scattered mud houses and isolated compounds that appeared now and then in the quiet area.

Inside one of the huts, Halima Umar-Dagaji was cooking next to a pile of firewood. She is a mother of six and lost a child years back. Like many mothers in the area, Mrs Umar-Dagaji finds it hard to provide her kids with good meals. Families here often lack knowledge about balanced diets or proper child nutrition.

“In the morning, we usually eat leftover food from the previous night,” she said. “In the afternoon, we cook rice, beans, or drink milk. At night, we mostly eat foods made from millet, guinea corn, and maize.”

Things started to change after nutrition programs were introduced in the community. The programs, organized by the government, donor agencies, and other groups, aim to improve nutrition among rural households in Jigawa. This state is one of the worst in Nigeria for child malnutrition.

“We were taught how to prepare nutritious meals using vegetables. We also learnt about personal hygiene, saving money through cooperative groups, and how to improve milk production from our cows,” Mrs Umar-Dagaji said.

Despite these efforts, child malnutrition is still a big problem across the state. Women in Kyaurawa said they have noticed some improvements, especially in their children’s health.

The Numbers Behind the Crisis

Almost half of deaths among children under five are linked to undernutrition, most of which occur in low- and middle-income countries, according to the 2022 data from the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The 2023, 2024 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey reveals that 56 percent of children in Jigawa are stunted. The national average stands at 30.8 percent. However, the Jigawa numbers show improvement from the 64 percent recorded in 2018, likely due to more community interventions.

Still, the challenge remains serious. UNICEF estimates that about two million Nigerian children suffer from Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) each year, with northern Nigeria seeing the majority of cases. The agency points out that worsening poverty, rising food prices, insecurity, and poor dietary diversity are pushing more families into nutrition crises across the region.

Recent food security assessments by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) also warned that inflation and lower household purchasing power are making it harder to access protein-rich foods, fruits, and vegetables for families in northern Nigeria.

Nutrition experts believe the slight drop in malnutrition over the years may be due to more community interventions, better access to treatment for severe acute malnutrition, improved awareness of breastfeeding and child-feeding practices, and increased teamwork among health, agriculture, and social protection programs.

Sahel Consulting Limited, a firm focused on agriculture and nutrition, runs one of the programs. Umar Ibrahim, the chairman of the Jauro Muhammadu Dangaje Dagaji Kyaurawa community, said better livestock support and nutrition education have helped child health outcomes in the area.

Mr Ibrahim said backyard gardening, improved milk production, and nutrition awareness campaigns from the organization have helped many families enhance their children’s diets and overall health. “Since we started planting vegetables, we no longer see malnutrition like before.”

Mrs Umar-Dagaji confirmed this. “Over the past one to two years, we have not had malnutrition cases among our children,” she said.

Residents in Kyaurawa access healthcare mainly through the Birnin Kudu General Hospital and the Primary Healthcare Centre in Kangire. A solar-powered borehole installed through Sahel Consulting’s work has also improved access to water and hygiene.

‘At First, We Rejected Them’

In Danzabarma, residents initially doubted the intervention programs. Many did not understand their purpose or trust outsiders coming into their remote area. It took officials months to build trust and explain their work before people accepted them.

“At first, we rejected them because we did not understand what they wanted to do. They spent almost a year talking to us and explaining things carefully before we finally realized they genuinely wanted to help us,” said Ibrahim Nagaya, a resident.

The intervention first focused on improving livestock healthcare and access to clean water before moving into household nutrition, women’s empowerment, and income-support activities. Women were trained in small-scale businesses, savings methods, and ways to generate income.

“Before now, most women stayed at home without any source of income,” Mr Nagaya explained. He added that they were trained in various business activities to help support their families and improve household feeding.

The program also introduced community savings structures that residents now rely on during tough times. “We now contribute money to a community account. Both men and women participate, and when someone has a problem, the community helps from the savings,” he said.

Residents also noted that better water access and livestock support increased milk yields and animal health. Previously, livestock drank from polluted streams, leading to disease and lower production.

“Our animals used to drink from dirty streams where they also urinated and defecated,” he said. “Now they drink clean water from boreholes, and their health has improved.”

They were also trained by Sahel Consulting in better animal-feeding practices, including pasture cultivation and improved livestock nutrition. “Before, most cattle produced about two liters of milk, but now some produce up to five liters,” he said.

Mr Nagaya mentioned that the intervention also raised awareness about maternal nutrition and breastfeeding in households. Residents said training on milk preservation and processing helped reduce waste and improve household income.

“In the past, a lot of milk spoiled when we could not sell it quickly. Now we have learned how to preserve and process it properly,” Mr Nagaya added.

Linking Agriculture to Nutrition

In Danzabarma, residents said the nutrition-focused interventions are changing how families think about feeding, especially for women and children. Ibrahim Ahmad, a resident, said the intervention helped people understand the link between maternal nutrition and child health, especially for pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers. This has led to noticeable improvements.

The nutrition intervention is part of the Advancing Local Dairy Development in Nigeria (ALDDN) project, supported by the firm. Isa Garba, a program officer for the ALDDN Project in Jigawa, said the intervention aims to help rural households see how agriculture and livestock production can improve family nutrition.

Mr Garba mentioned that the program worked with 6,030 dairy and 7,361 non-dairy farming households across several hard-to-reach communities in the state. He stated that the numbers of female dairy and non-dairy beneficiaries stand at 2,787 and 3,538, respectively.

“During cooking demonstrations, families bring food items available in their homes such as millet, sorghum, moringa, and beans,” he said. Facilitators then show how to combine these foods to enhance their nutritional value for women and children.

The program also introduced homestead gardening to support household dietary diversity and improve access to vegetables. Interested families received vegetable seedlings for crops like tomatoes, carrots, and moringa, along with practical help in backyard farming techniques.

Community-based extension workers were deployed to support households and monitor the adoption of these practices. Some households now consume vegetables grown in their gardens, while others sell some to earn money.

“Some families told us they no longer take their children to the hospital as often as before because they have improved what the children eat,” Mr Garba said.

The intervention also improved water access in several underserved areas by constructing solar-powered boreholes connected to public taps for domestic use and livestock watering.

The project also identified community nutrition champions and cooperative groups to keep the nutrition and gardening activities going after the intervention ended earlier this year in January.

“We believe the communities can continue these practices themselves because local champions and cooperative groups are now leading many of the activities,” he added.

Health Access, Lingering Concerns

Malnutrition is still a major issue in parts of Jigawa, where access to good primary healthcare is limited. Danzabarma residents mainly rely on the Birnin Kudu General Hospital and Kangeri PHC, both about 30 minutes by road, for medical care.

Mr Nagaya said that the lack of a local health facility means residents spend about N1,000 on transport to the nearest hospital. For many low-income families, this is a heavy financial burden. “When children are often sick, all your money goes to hospital treatment. But when families are healthy, the money can be used for other things,” he said.

At Kangeri PHC, health workers confirmed that community-based nutrition programs and routine nutrition counselling are helping families spot malnutrition early and seek treatment before children’s conditions worsen. Umar Abdullahi, the officer in charge of the facility, said dozens of children under five visit the center weekly for nutrition screening and treatment under the Community Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) program.

The facility works closely with volunteers of the Jigawa State ‘Masaki Initiative’ across nearby communities to find children with signs of malnutrition and refer severe cases for treatment. The Jigawa State Primary Health Care Development Agency (JSPHCDA), with support from UNICEF, runs this community-led initiative to empower local communities in childcare.

“We receive referrals from many settlements every week,” Mr Abdullahi said. “The volunteers screen children within the communities and send severe cases to this facility for treatment.”

Between January 2025 and February 2026, the facility received 272 cartons and treated about 393 children. The facility combines nutrition treatment with ongoing health education aimed at improving feeding practices among caregivers.

Most children brought to the facility arrive with complications related to SAM, including diarrhoea, vomiting, fever, skin infections, and visible body weakness. “When a child comes, we check the mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) and body weight,” he said. “Children with severe complications are referred to stabilization centers, while others are admitted here and treated using Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF).”

Children weighing between 3.9kg and 4.9kg are given 11 sachets weekly. “Children between 5kg and 6.9kg receive 18 sachets, while those above may receive 21 sachets, depending on their condition,” he added. Despite occasional supply delays, the facility keeps inventory records to monitor distribution and ensure accountability in the use of RUTF supplies.

Amina Kimjiri, a resident of Jahun LGA, remembered how her 10-month-old child suddenly became very sick after showing symptoms linked to malnutrition. Mrs Kimjiri said her child became weak, with a swollen stomach and thin limbs. Health workers diagnosed the child with SAM and immediately started treatment using RUTF.

Sustaining the Gains

Abubakar Abali, officer-in-charge of the Jahun Urban Maternity Centre, said community-based nutrition interventions and increased awareness campaigns help caregivers spot malnutrition symptoms early and provide treatment before complications worsen. Mr Abali noted that one major focus of the intervention is correcting long-standing misconceptions about breastfeeding and child-feeding practices.

“There is a belief in some communities that once a woman becomes pregnant again, she should stop breastfeeding her child. Even if the child is two or three months old, the woman would be encouraged by her peers or family members to stop breastfeeding,” he said.

On the Masaki volunteers, he said they operate across surrounding communities to identify malnourished children early and connect them to treatment services. This referral system helps health workers prepare ahead of clinic days and assists caregivers in accessing treatment more quickly.

The facility conducts home visits and follow-up monitoring to ensure caregivers properly administer RUTF and other nutritional supplements to malnourished children. Caregivers are required to return empty sachets during follow-up visits as part of accountability and monitoring measures.

Community Nutrition Response

In Garin Dinya, one of the Masaki nutrition sites in Jahun LGA, Shamsia Abdullahi spends her Wednesdays and Thursdays moving between settlements, screening children for signs of malnutrition and teaching mothers how to prepare nutritious meals with locally available food. Mrs Abdullahi, who heads the Garin Dinya Masaki site, said her work mainly involves counselling mothers, conducting food demonstrations, and identifying children who need urgent medical attention.

Another volunteer, Hassana Idrisu, said community volunteers also follow up on severe cases referred to health facilities. “We call the health workers at Jahun Urban Maternity to confirm whether the mothers arrived,” Mrs Idrisu said. “Sometimes we also speak with husbands to encourage them to allow their wives to continue treatment for the children.”

‘Cases Have Reduced by 75 Percent’

Jahun LGA was the first area for the pilot phase of the Masaki Initiative when it started in 2018, before expanding to other LGAs in 2020. The Nutrition Focal Person for Jahun LGA, Suleiman Muda, noted that malnutrition cases in the area have significantly dropped thanks to the nutrition interventions introduced by the Jigawa State government and development partners.

“Jahun is among the 27 LGAs implementing the CMAM program in Jigawa State. As of now, SAM cases have reduced by about 75 percent in Jahun,” Mr Muda said. He explained that each local government provides stipends to community volunteers and health workers attached to the program, adding that hard-to-reach communities are linked to nearby health facilities where children are screened before severe cases are referred to CMAM centers for treatment.

Children diagnosed with SAM are enrolled in Outpatient Therapeutic Programme (OTP) centers where RUTF is given based on body weight and nutritional condition. However, Mr Muda noted that nutrition services in Jahun still depend heavily on support from the state government and development partners, especially for RUTF and other nutrition supplies.

He added that Jahun once had five OTP centers, but shortages of RUTF supplies forced authorities to reduce this to two centers at Jahun Urban Maternity and Aujara.

Interventions Reducing Malnutrition, Officials

Speaking with PREMIUM TIMES, the Director at the State Primary Health Care Development Agency (JSPHCDA), Hassan Shuaibu, said the state expanded its CMAM program after observing worsening food insecurity in the Sahelian LGAs of Jigawa in 2020. Mr Shuaibu said tackling malnutrition requires teamwork beyond health, with agriculture, women’s affairs, and community development programs all playing important parts in improving nutrition outcomes.

He said the state introduced the “Masaki” initiative to spot malnourished children early through grassroots screening and nutrition counselling. The Jigawa government commits about N250 million annually as counterpart funding for procuring RUTF, while local governments also support community nutrition activities across the state.

He said that the interventions are being integrated into routine maternal and child healthcare services in many facilities. “We encourage mothers to start breastfeeding immediately after delivery and maintain exclusive breastfeeding,” he said. “We also conduct home visits to educate families on hygiene, handwashing, and proper feeding practices.”

Mr Shuaibu mentioned that the state has also started livelihood support programs to improve household nutrition and family income. “Some women receive chickens and goats to support household earnings, while others are trained in backyard gardening and food production,” he said. “The idea is to boost family income so households can afford better diets.”

He added that nutrition awareness campaigns now involve not just mothers, but also men, religious leaders, youth groups, and community leaders. The official stated that the state currently operates CMAM sites across 18 LGAs and plans to expand community-based nutrition services further in the coming years.

“We are gradually reducing malnutrition, but we are not there yet,” he said. “There is still a lot to achieve.”

UNICEF Backs Community-Based Nutrition Interventions

UNICEF Nutrition Manager for the Kano Field Office, Karanveer Singh, said the organization’s support in Jigawa focuses on strengthening both prevention and treatment efforts through the state government’s community-based nutrition programs. Mr Singh explained that while treating severely malnourished children is important, the broader goal is to stop children from falling into severe malnutrition.

“For every naira contributed by the state government, UNICEF provides a matching contribution,” Mr Singh said. “If the state gives N250 million, UNICEF adds another N250 million, making it possible to procure RUTF worth N500 million.”

He described the Masaki initiative as one of Nigeria’s largest community-based nutrition programs, noting that the government designed the intervention to identify malnutrition cases early at the community level before they worsen. The program has evolved into what officials now call “Masaki 2.0,” a broader intervention coordinated by the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning.

Mr Singh mentioned that the intervention also brings together sectors like agriculture, water and sanitation, women’s affairs, and education to tackle the different factors driving malnutrition. “If food is not available or affordable, the health sector alone cannot fix the problem,” he said. “Agriculture, education, water, sanitation, and women empowerment all play key parts.”

As part of the intervention, about 1,200 vulnerable households in selected LGAs received vegetable seedlings, fruit tree saplings, and poultry birds to enhance household nutrition and dietary diversity. Mr Singh also stated that changing long-held feeding practices and cultural beliefs needs ongoing engagement with families and communities.