Maradi: Distribution of Nutritional Supplements to Combat Childhood Malnutrition

by Garba Mamoudou, Communication officer, World Vision Niger

The Maradi region of Niger is facing imported nutritional challenges, particularly among children. Its rates are the highest of the country and indicate a worrying situation. 

According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the region has a global acute malnutrition (GAM) rate of 12.9% and a severe acute malnutrition (SAM) rate of 2.3% among children aged 6 to 59 months. Only 8.7% of children aged 6 to 23 months consume a sufficiently varied diet for proper growth. This means that most children are not receiving the necessary nutrients for healthy development.

Several factors contribute to malnutrition in the region, including food insecurity, inadequate feeding practices, frequent illnesses and limited access to health services. As some of the women explained it :

• “Bad harvests caused by drought make it hard to properly feed our children. Sometimes, there isn't enough food for the whole family ", said Saoudé, mother of four. 
• “Healthcare is scarce. When kids get sick, finding medicine or a doctor is nearly impossible. This worsens their nutritional status, especially when they have diarrhea or malaria”, said Nafissa.
• “Low income forces us to rely on simple meals that lack essential nutrients for our children  ”, said Sarahtou, a mother of five.

As these challenges continue to claim more lives, World Vision Niger has joined forces with the World Food Program (WFP) to set up the “Maradi Integrated Resilience Project”. This initiative has increased the resilience of communities by implementing several activities including those for improving children's nutrition. Monthly distributions of nutritional supplements are therefore carried out. 

"During the January 2025 distribution, + 5 000 metric tons of the nutritional supplement “Plumpy Sup” were distributed to more than 3000 children aged 6-23 months from the three communes where the Project operates. This monthly ration, which protects children from malnutrition in  vulnerable beneficiary households participating in Food For Asset activities is given in conjunction with conditional cash payments,” explains Hamadou Diaouga, the nutrition coordinator.  

The distributions of the nutritional supplement “Plumpy Sup” has had several positive impacts such as reducing moderate acute malnutrition, improving the health and development of children, supporting vulnerable households and increasing recovery rates from moderate acute malnutrition.

“My son was very weak and often sick. We didn't have enough food to give him with a balanced diet. Nutrition programs provided us with the help we needed to save our children.  Thanks to the support we received, my son was able to regain his strength and health. He began to gain weight and develop normally. It changed our lives. I am so grateful for this help,” says Sarahtou. 

Saoudé explains how her child situation was heartbreaking before World Vision Niger's initiative : “They lacked energy and could not play like other children. The nutritional supplements they received made a huge difference. Now they are more active and healthier. »

These testimonies demonstrate the positive effects of nutritional interventions on the health and well-being of children and their families. These combined effects strengthen communities' resilience to malnutrition and encourage healthy child development.