Kebbi rejects MSF-linked report on child deaths

The Kebbi State Government has dismissed a report linked to Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) on child deaths in the state, describing it as false, misleading, and completely inconsistent with the current realities in Kebbi State.

In a statement issued by the Governor’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yahaya Sarki, the government said the report claimed UNICEF data showed that about 30 newborns and 100 children under the age of five die every day in Kebbi, with half of the deaths linked to malnutrition.

According to the government, MSF’s Public Relations Officer in Nigeria, Abdulkarim Yakubu, later clarified that the figures were based on data from 2018 and were never intended to represent the current situation in Kebbi State.

The government said this clarification proves the statistics do not reflect the present situation and created “a misleading impression capable of causing unnecessary public anxiety.”

It also criticised the use of outdated figures, saying international organisations should ensure that any data released is accurate, properly explained, and does not create false impressions.

The statement said Governor Nasir Idris’ administration has introduced several programmes to improve healthcare and child nutrition. These include the distribution of 20,000 packs of Kunun Lahiya worth more than N140 million to 10,000 children across the state’s 21 local government areas.

It added that the state has continued working with UNICEF, which donated 10,500 cartons of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) to help treat children suffering from severe acute malnutrition in 11 local government areas.

The government also highlighted ongoing health sector reforms, including the renovation of all 32 general hospitals, upgrades to 225 primary healthcare centres, the distribution of new ambulances, free delivery kits for pregnant women, higher salaries for doctors, and the employment of 500 health workers previously engaged under GAVI.

The statement further recalled that in 2025, MSF claimed more than 400 malnourished children were being admitted daily to Takalau Primary Healthcare Centre. It said Governor Idris visited the facility and found the claims “inconsistent with the actual situation.”

While acknowledging MSF’s humanitarian work, the state government urged the organisation to ensure its reports remain “factual, balanced, and free from misinformation.”

The government said it “unequivocally rejects the report and the figures attributed to it as inaccurate and misleading.”

It reaffirmed its commitment to improving healthcare through continued investment and partnerships.