WHO, Partners Update Nigeria’s Severe Acute Malnutrition Treatment Guidelines

The World Health Organization (WHO) Nigeria has disclosed that every child suffering from Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) deserves timely access to lifesaving inpatient care, noting that prompt treatment can reduce mortality to below five per cent.

The organisation said Nigeria continues to face a significant burden of malnutrition, citing findings from the 2024 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), which revealed that 40 per cent of children under the age of five are stunted, eight per cent are wasted, and 27 per cent are underweight.

According to WHO, acute malnutrition remains one of the leading causes of illness and death among children under five globally. It explained that many affected children either die at home without receiving medical care or are brought to health facilities too late, already suffering life-threatening complications. The organisation also noted that some deaths occur because routine treatment practices that are safe for most children can be harmful to those with severe acute malnutrition.

WHO further disclosed that boys experience slightly higher rates of wasting than girls, highlighting the importance of collecting sex-disaggregated data to guide targeted interventions and improve outcomes.

To strengthen the country’s response, WHO Nigeria, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, UNICEF, the World Food Programme (WFP), and the Paediatric Association of Nigeria, organised a six-day technical workshop in Lagos State from July 20 to 25, 2026.

The workshop brought together 21 paediatricians, nutritionists and health officers to review and update the National Guideline for Inpatient Management of Severe Acute Malnutrition in line with the WHO’s 2023 global recommendations.

At the end of the exercise, participants produced a zero draft of the revised national guideline alongside eight updated training modules. The new materials are expected to strengthen the capacity of physicians and other healthcare workers managing children with complicated severe acute malnutrition, while promoting safe, timely and quality inpatient care across health facilities.

WHO said the updated guideline would also support continuous quality improvement in the management of severe acute malnutrition, helping health facilities provide consistent, evidence-based treatment and improve survival outcomes for affected children.

The initiative is supported by Irish Aid.