INNOVATION STUDY RATIONALE HSCL’s PRESENTATION AT THE FEDERATION OF AFRICAN NUTRITION SOCIETIES (FANUS) CONFERENCE, DAKAR, SENEGAL

Nigeria has been facing persistent challenges of poverty, inequality, and malnutrition despite its abundant human and natural resources. HSCL understood the gap following evidence obtained in Abia state having Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) rate less than the 5% acceptable threshold. Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) rate is also 0.4%. However, 23.5% of children in Abia state get the minimum acceptable diet (NDHS 2018).

The study revealed that of the 11,729 households, 80% (9,430) exhibited a high level of vulnerability based on the poverty probability index (PPI) score. Among the identified households, 2% of the under-five children (127) were found to be acutely malnourished.

Following the public health importance of this study, the HSCL-ANRIN team made a presentation at the 5th Federation of African Nutrition Societies (FANUS) Conference, Dakar, Senegal. Following the presentation, stakeholders including representatives of Helen Keller Foundation, Vitamin Angel Organization, the Directorate of Governors Forum of Nigeria and Federal Ministry of Health adduced to the study as a viable way of establishing a credible register of vulnerability and nutritional status among the poor households in Abia State. This could be generalized in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where there is the need for evidence-based planning and solving of various socioeconomic and nutritional problems.