1,000 children die daily over malnutrition

ITRealms:

Nutrition and media experts have called for media partnership so as to curb the rising rate of child malnutrition, even as estimated over 1,000 children die daily, reports ITRealms.

This was the tune of discussions from the dialogue organized by UNICEF and facilitated by Communication Specialist, Geoffrey Njoku, enters the second day with participants drawn from both traditional and online media.

According to UNICEF Malnutrition has increased in Nigeria to the extent of killing over 1,000 children daily.

Speaking, UNICEF Chief of Communication, Doune Porter, stressed the need for media partnership so as to attract the necessary intervention to stop child malnutrition in the country.

Doune Porter, said a new figure on child malnutrition will be released by UNICEF soon, saying healthy and well-nourished children are needed for the future of Nigeria, calling on the media to sustain the partnership.

In his presentation on “An overview of malnutrition in Nigeria and its impact on children, UNICEF’s Chief Nutritionist, Mr. Arjan De Gwat, spoke extensively on the nutrition values of foods that he classified as macronutrients and micronutrients.

He said 55 percent of child deaths are attributed to malnutrition, adding that malnutrition of the mother could result in disability of the child or miscarriage.

Mr. Arjan, said malnutrition could also lead to reduction in mental capacity and ultimately poor education of the child, advising mothers to embrace exclusive breastfeeding for at least six months.

"Exclusive breastfeeding has the potential to save more children's lives than any other preventive intervention," he said.

The Coordinator, African Centre for Media and Information Literacy, Mr. Chido Onuma, made a presentation on media advocacy required to keep the issue of child malnutrition on the front burner.

He spoke on how the media can support advocacy for increased resources for nutrition programming.

Mr. Onuma therefore, charged the media to sensitize governments at all levels to increase resources to enhance child nutrition.

He also charged them to do more of features, special reports and editorials to sustain focus on child malnutrition in the country.

Dr. Chris Osa Isokpunwu of the Federal Ministry of Health, also made a presentation on Nutrition Situation in Nigeria.


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