Bill Gates, Co-chair of the Gates Foundation, is set to engage with Nigerian leaders, youth, and partners to tackle health issues, promote innovations, and enhance nutrition across Africa.
The Foundation announced this on Monday, detailing that Gates will hold discussions with national and local leaders, as well as partners, grantees, and innovators during his visit on Tuesday.
Gates, along with other foundation leaders, will consult with experts in primary health care, agriculture, and nutrition who are making strides in these fields despite economic hurdles. Additionally, he will participate in a pan-African virtual dialogue focused on combating malnutrition through integrated solutions in health, agriculture, and financing.
Musician, educator, and humanitarian Jon Batiste will join Gates for this dialogue.
The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) reports that malnutrition causes the death of 100 children under five every hour in Nigeria, translating to approximately 2,400 child deaths daily.
The Global Hunger Trend indicates a rise in child malnutrition, with the proportion increasing from 9.3% to 15.9% in 2023. Last year, 35 million children under five were malnourished, with 12 million experiencing stunted growth, 3 million suffering from severe weight loss, and 23.5 million affected by anemia.
The reduction rate in stunting is currently at a modest 1.4% per year, though other malnutrition-related issues such as child wasting, stunting, and mortality continue to see improvements.
