Unit Life, a United Nations development initiative, has partnered with the Ecobank Group’s Foundation to fight chronic malnutrition in Africa.

The two parties launched the ‘make the connection’ campaign to raise awareness and mobilise funds to prevent chronic malnutrition in the continent. Unit Life was established by the UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) and UN Women to prepare financial resources to contribute to the development of resilient and nutrition-sensitive food systems.

In a statement co-signed by Unit Life and Ecobank recently, the organisations said the COVID-19 pandemic has worsened the malnutrition crisis in Africa.

Although about 144 million children under the age of five suffer from chronic malnutrition worldwide, most of them are in Africa where as many as 24 African countries including Nigeria have a burden of above 30 percent.

The statement noted that many children in the continent risk life-long consequences, including stunted growth and cognitive development as a result of not having a diet that meets their nutrient needs during the first 1,000 days of their lives.

Assia Sidibe, head of Unit Life secretariat, said: “everywhere in Africa, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a disastrous effect on people’s income and ability to access nutritious foods.” The Cable