Nigeria and several African countries have missed the 2025 deadline set for reducing anaemia among women of reproductive age, raising concerns about the slow pace of progress and shifting attention to a revised 2030 target.
Health experts say anaemia continues to pose a serious public health burden across the continent, particularly among women and children, with far-reaching consequences for health outcomes, learning capacity, and economic productivity.
Data from the World Health Organisation indicate that more than 800 million women and children are currently living with the condition worldwide.
In Nigeria, the situation remains troubling, with over half of women of reproductive age affected, alongside nearly seven in 10 children between six and 59 months. Health authorities attribute the high prevalence to a combination of poor nutrition, infectious diseases, chronic inflammation, and inherited blood disorders.
In response, health stakeholders from 21 African countries recently met in Saly, Senegal, to review regional progress and develop new strategies to accelerate anaemia prevention and treatment.
The meeting produced draft action plans aimed at strengthening the integration of anaemia services within existing health systems, improving governance and accountability, and increasing domestic and partner funding.
International partners, including the WHO, UNICEF, and Nutrition International, have reaffirmed their commitment to supporting African countries in translating the renewed strategies into measurable outcomes ahead of the 2030 deadline.
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