The Katsina State Government, in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has commenced the 2026 SMART Nutrition Survey to assess the nutritional status of children, women and vulnerable households across the state.
The survey, which covers all 34 Local Government Areas, is expected to provide updated data that will help the government and development partners design and target interventions aimed at addressing malnutrition and food insecurity.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony in Katsina, the Statistician General of the Katsina State Bureau of Statistics, Prof. Saifullahi Ibrahim, described the exercise as more than a data-gathering initiative, stressing its importance to evidence-based governance.
According to the 2025 SMART Survey, Global Acute Malnutrition stood at 7.4 per cent, while stunting and underweight were recorded at 46.3 per cent and 25.8 per cent respectively.
Although acute malnutrition declined from 13.5 per cent in 2022 to 7.4 per cent in 2025, officials said the persistent levels of chronic malnutrition remain a major concern.
The survey also showed gaps in infant feeding practices, with only 21.2 per cent of children exclusively breastfed and minimum dietary diversity recorded at 28.5 per cent.
Ibrahim identified inflation, poverty, conflict, displacement, large family sizes, childhood illnesses and inadequate coverage of nutrition interventions as some of the factors contributing to malnutrition in the state.
He also disclosed that about 73,500 people in Katsina experienced emergency food insecurity between October and December 2025, with further deterioration projected during the June-August 2026 lean season.
The 2026 survey will assess wasting, stunting and underweight among children aged 0-59 months, mortality, childhood illnesses, maternal nutrition, infant and young child feeding practices, Vitamin A coverage, health-seeking behaviour and household water, sanitation and hygiene indicators.
The exercise will adopt the SMART methodology and a two-stage cluster sampling design across seven survey domains covering the state’s 34 LGAs.
The UNICEF Planning and Monitoring Specialist, Nura Shehu, commended the Katsina State Government for its commitment to improving the nutritional well-being of children, women and vulnerable households.
