A healthcare facility in northern Nigeria has become a lifeline for thousands of severely malnourished children and desperate mothers, as the country grapples with an escalating hunger crisis driven by conflict, poverty, and inadequate healthcare infrastructure.
At a treatment centre in Kaita community in Katsina state, run by the Alliance for International Medical Action (Alima) in collaboration with local authorities, a constant stream of mothers arrive with critically ill children. Many of the young patients are admitted in semi-conscious conditions, with medical staff using colour-coded bands to quickly assess levels of malnutrition.
The crisis is part of a wider humanitarian emergency unfolding across Nigeria. The Red Cross has warned that up to 33 million people could face severe hunger in 2026, while the United Nations estimates that around 6.4 million children may suffer from acute malnutrition by the end of the year—most of them in the country’s northern regions.
The 80-bed Kaita facility treated over 36,000 malnourished children last year alone, highlighting the scale of the emergency. To reach those unable to travel, mobile clinics have also been deployed in remote and conflict-affected areas. However, aid workers say the demand far exceeds available resources.
Experts attribute the worsening situation to a combination of long-standing and emerging challenges. Climate shocks, rising food prices, and poor governance have deepened food insecurity, while ongoing violence by insurgent groups has restricted access to farmland and humanitarian aid. Funding shortfalls have further weakened relief efforts, leaving many vulnerable communities without consistent support.
Nigeria’s fragile healthcare system has compounded the crisis. The country faces a severe shortage of medical professionals, with a doctor-to-patient ratio of about 1:9,000—far below global recommendations. Many doctors are emigrating due to poor working conditions and low wages, placing additional strain on already overstretched facilities.
Despite some government initiatives, including nutrition programmes supported by international partners, health experts say systemic underfunding remains a major hurdle. The health sector received only about 5.2% of the national budget, significantly below the 15% target set by the African Union, limiting the country’s ability to respond effectively to the crisis.
Aid organisations warn that without urgent intervention—especially ahead of the lean season between June and September—the situation could deteriorate further. For families arriving at facilities like the one in Kaita, the stakes are immediate and life-threatening, as malnutrition continues to weaken children’s immune systems and increase the risk of preventable deaths.
