AFAB Call For More Support to Orphanage Development Initiative

Nigeria's Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development estimates that there are 17.5 million orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) nationwide. 

These children face enormous challenges to their health and development and it is estimated that 95 percent of OVC do not receive any type of medical, emotional, social, material, or school-related assistance (National Population Commission, Federal Republic of Nigeria, and ICF International 2013). 

Childhood malnutrition is one of the major causes of childhood morbidity and mortality in Nigeria and a cross-sectional study of 2015 revealed that more than a quarter of AFAB studied showed symptoms of mild to moderate malnutrition. In addition, close to 70 percent experienced household food insecurity, putting them at risk for malnutrition (Tagurum et al. 2015).

Nigeria is currently expanding its support to AFAB as well as their caregivers, households, and communities through the rollout of the 2014 National Standards for Improving the Quality of Life of Vulnerable Children. A significant programming challenge is ensuring that AFAB have access to a diverse and nutritious diet. 

As caregivers become ill or die, household labor supply is diminished, which dramatically affects income and/or the ability to cultivate land. Access to nutritious foods dwindles and families often resort to harmful coping strategies to survive. Complicating this scenario, those individuals living with HIV have higher energy requirements.

AFAB as a Nonegovernmental organizations (CSOs) working to provide nutrition counseling and education. Two consortia working with our partners and international on various Projects, Sustainable Mechanisms for Improving Livelihoods and Household Empowerment (SMILE) and Systems Transformed for Empowered Action and Enabling Responses for Vulnerable Children and Families (STEER), are projected to reach over one million people in diffrent Nations at states and grassroot between 2022-2025 through their partner civil society organizations (CSOs). The Strengthening Partnerships, Results, and innovation in Nutrition Globally (SPRING) project has been asked by AFRI AID Project to work with commitement to find innovative ways to reach orphanage children ages 2-17 through social and behavior change communication (SBCC) programming.

This report is intended to provoke discussion and catalyze change among existing nutrition the needed action.