Amidst increasing
world’s food insecurity, Nigeria is said to have the highest level of
stunted children under the age of five in sub Saharan Africa.
Head
of Nutrition Division, Federal Ministry of Health, Dr Chris Isokpunwu
stated this at a media dialogue on malnutrition which was organized
by UNICEF in Ibadan.
The
nutrition expert, said Nigeria was the
second highest in the world, putting this at 37 per cent.
The
expert, added also that 18% and 29% of children in the country were also
wasting and underweight respectively, two conditions also suggestive of
malnutrition.
Isokpunwu,
noting that nutrition has a powerful influence on growth,
development and productivity of every individual, stated that malnutrition
contributes to about 50 per cent of deaths in children below five in Nigeria.
The
expert decried poor investment in nutrition, saying “this has not been
commensurate with its contribution to child mortality.”
According
to him, “optimum nutrient at each stage of lifestyle is therefore a fundamental
human right.”
He expressed
concern on increasing cases of child malnutrition due to the
economic downturn in the country, said stunting affects does not just
mental capacity, but makes children short for their age.
According
to him, “that is why we talk about the first 1000 days of life. If you do not
give that child the nutrient that such a child requires, that child is never going
to get to his full potentials in terms of intellect and physic.”
He,
however, described exclusive breast feeding in first six months of life as
beneficial in curtailing malnutrition in children and avert deaths.
According
to him, “an estimated 13% of child death can be averted if 90% of mothers breastfeed
exclusively for the first six months of life.
“Breastfeeding has a wide range of
benefits for child survival, for health, for nutrition and health of the child.
It provides adequate nutrients and the mother does not need to do anything.”
He, however, urged media practitioners to
use their platforms to advocate and become advocates to ensure that nutrition
has a budget line and that the funds are released timely.
Source:
Tribuneng.com
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