By Gabriel Ameh
Abuja – Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has launched a new nutrition intervention in Kebbi State aimed at reducing the growing burden of child malnutrition through the use of “Tom Brown,” a locally produced nutritional food supplement.
The initiative comes after MSF recorded a significant rise in cases of severe acute malnutrition (SAM) among children in Kebbi between 2024 and 2025. The humanitarian organisation estimates that more than 16,000 children suffering from moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) will benefit from the programme before the end of 2026.
According to MSF Nigeria Country Coordinator, Stuart Alexander Zimble, malnutrition remains one of the biggest threats to child survival in the state.
“Malnutrition remains alarmingly widespread in Kebbi State and is a leading cause of death among children under five. Authorities and humanitarian actors must urgently increase their support to prevent further avoidable deaths,” Zimble said.
UNICEF data cited by MSF shows that an estimated 30 newborns and 100 children under five die daily in Kebbi State, with about half of those deaths linked directly to malnutrition. Poor vaccination coverage, high levels of stunting and recurring malaria infections continue to worsen child health outcomes across the state.
Since 2022, MSF has been providing free treatment for children suffering from severe and complicated malnutrition through inpatient and outpatient therapeutic feeding centres across Kebbi. However, the organisation says the scale of the crisis remains enormous due to poverty, insecurity, climate-related challenges and limited access to healthcare services.
MSF reported that after it stopped admitting children with moderate acute malnutrition in September 2024 to prioritise severe cases, the number of severe malnutrition cases increased sharply. Outpatient severe cases rose by 41 per cent, while inpatient admissions increased by 39 per cent.
The organisation said many children who initially presented with moderate malnutrition later returned in critical condition after their health deteriorated.
To address the challenge, MSF revised its nutrition strategy in early 2026 and introduced the Tom Brown programme ahead of the annual lean season, a period when food shortages are most severe.
Tom Brown is a traditional Nigerian food mixture prepared from sorghum, soybeans and groundnuts. Known in some communities as Garin Kunu, the nutrient-rich blend is widely accepted and easily produced using locally available ingredients.
Under the first phase of the programme, MSF plans to distribute about 20,000 kilograms of the flour blend to moderately malnourished children aged between six months and five years in Jega and Maiyama Local Government Areas.
Beyond food distribution, the initiative also includes community health education, family planning services, malaria testing and strengthened screening for malnutrition at primary healthcare facilities.
MSF noted that a similar Tom Brown intervention implemented in Gombe State between 2022 and 2023 produced encouraging results. A study involving 1,207 children with moderate acute malnutrition recorded a recovery rate of 90.2 per cent, while only 7.5 per cent of participants discontinued treatment.
The organisation is urging government authorities, humanitarian agencies and development partners to invest in community-based nutrition programmes that rely on local production and community ownership.
According to MSF, expanding local initiatives such as community kitchens and community-led food production could improve access to nutrition support while ensuring long-term sustainability.
The programme will initially be implemented in selected communities, with outcomes reviewed after several months. If successful, it could be expanded to all five local government areas where MSF currently operates in Kebbi State.
MSF expects approximately 16,234 children to benefit from the intervention by December 2026.
