Malnutrition according to the World Health Organization is responsible for around 45% of global deaths among children under 5 years of age. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization also reports malnutrition as the largest contributor to diseases in the world.

During pandemics, low-income societies are more at risk. People tend to cope with the resulting resulting socioeconomic lockdown, by changing the quantity, quality and diversity of the food they consume.

A report by the Pulsus Group, explains that hunger, the leading cause of malnutrition, is closely related to poor health outcomes, including a higher risk of depression and suicidal ideation in adolescents, and chronic conditions. In addition, the report says nutrient deficiencies, such as iron deficiency, are known to impair learning and cause decreased productivity in school-age children, and maternal depressive disorders.

This is why government response to the coronavirus pandemic must include strategic welfare palliatives for all citizens, says Nigerian scholar, Dr. Chris Kwaja.

“If there is no balance between the lockdown (quarantine) and the livelihood of the people, a new form of crisis will certainly emerge – hunger and malnutrition, which will be more visible in children, women and people living with disabilities,” said Kwaja, a Senior Lecturer and Researcher at the Centre for Peace and Security Studies, Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola, Adamawa State.

Such “livelihood support”, when missing “provides sound basis for crimes and other vices and can temper with the frail peace that’s on ground,” Kwaja said in an interview.

Criminals, he added, will “always” leverage on the plights of the poor to cause havoc. “They can go as far as instigating the poor and use them as shields,” he said.

This is why a “peace building approach” that holistically analyzes public impact, in designing government policies and programmes, is necessary to preserve peace, says Kwaja.

“There are four issues we are dealing with here. Pandemics (health), governance, livelihood and Peace. Government should adopt a Peace building approach to engaging the citizens in order to ensure a wholesome support.

“The Peace building approach is one in which what ever decision government is taking, the utmost attention will be giving to how such a decision will affect the citizens.

“Logistics for the security agents on duty is important. Logistics for the medical personnel as first respondents is equally important,” said Kwaja who is also Advisor in United States Institute for Peace (USIP).

Nigeria currently faces high cases of terrorism in the Northeast, armed banditry in Northwest, farner-herder conflicts in North Central and militancy in the South-South region. There have also been separatist movements in the Southeast and kidnapping in the Southwest.

The conflicts have created millions of social and economic displacements leading to high poverty in the country. The coronavirus pandemic might yet cause another rise in the already deteriorating economic standards in the country, unless careful, strategic and decisive steps are taken.

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Covid-19 Lockdown: Women and Children from Poor Families Risk Malnutrition – Dr. Chris Kwaja