UNICEF raises fresh concern over malnutrition in S’West

The United Nations International Children Education Fund (UNICEF) has expressed fresh concern over the level of malnutrition in the Southwest geo-political and attributed the situation to poor adherence to Exclusive Breast Feeding (EBF).

The UNICEF Communication Specialist, Mr. Geoffrey Njoku, expressed the concern in Ibadan on Monday at the opening of a two-day media dialogue on child malnutrition.

The theme of the conference is, “Good nutrition, invest more.”

According to Njoku, the assumption that malnutrition is only in the northern part of Nigeria is not true and misleading.

The communication expert, quoting a 2013 survey, said that the Southwest had 22 per cent stunted children under the age of five.

He said malnutrition was a national problem.

Njoku, who narrated his Owerri hometown experience in Imo state, said studies had shown that 13 per cent of children born to rich families also suffered malnutrition.

The Communication Officer of UNICEF, Mrs Blessing Ejiofor, said Media Coalition Against Malnutrition was aimed at creating opportunities for media advocacy on child nutrition through sensitisation.

“It also provides media partners with the knowledge and materials to support advocacy for child nutrition, acquaint the media with malnutrition situation in Nigeria with particular reference to child malnutrition,” she said.

Mrs. Ogunbumi Omotayo, an official of the Federal Ministry of Health said “Nigeria has the highest number of stunted children under age five in sub-Saharan Africa.

Omotayo also said that globally, Nigeria had 37 per cent of all stunted children, 18 per cent wasting and 29 per cent underweight.

She said that Nigeria’s infant mortality rate was 69 in 100 live births, and under-five mortality of 128 in 1000 live births, while only 17 per cent were exclusively breast fed.

Mrs Ada Ezeogu, the UNICEF Nutrition Specialist, said Nigeria’s Nutrition Indices (2013) show that only 17 per cent of Nigerian mothers engaged in EBF.

Ezeogu said this was far below the 50 per cent international standard requirement.

She said malnutrition was not all about food but inadequate care, knowledge, food insecurity, unsanitary environment and other factors, which were evident in the six states of the region.

She identified over-nutrition, under-nutrition and micronutrient deficiency as burdens of malnutrition in Nigeria.

Ezeogu called for more emphasis on the 1,000 days from the period of conception to when the child attained the age of two.

She said the Southwest was noted for good compliance with the six months on EBF but failed in the complementary feeding that followed immediately the child stopped EBF.

Ezeogu said that if the 50 per cent EBF international standard was achieved, the child killer diseases would be reduced by 50 per cent.

She called for policy, coordination and partnership to promote EBF in the region and the country at large.

Ugwuanyi flags-off health week, pays medical bills of indigent patients (2nd LEAD)

Moses Oyediran, Enugu

Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State on Monday settled the medical bills of some patients who were unable to make such payments after their discharge from the Enugu State University Teaching Hospital, Park Lane, Enugu.

Among the beneficiaries of the governor’s kind gesture was a middle-aged woman, Mrs. Sunday Blessing, who delivered her baby via Caesarian Section at the hospital but could not leave as she had yet to settle the medical bill.

The governor paid the bills while flagging-off the first round of this year’s Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week which took place at Park Lane General Hospital, Enugu.

Addressing the gathering comprising health workers and nursing mothers, Governor Ugwuanyi informed them that the programme seeks to curb the “unacceptably high maternal, newborn and child mortality rates in the country” and to explore the most effective ways to address the challenges it poses in the society.

He explained that the priority that health enjoys in his administration is underscored by the fact that the programme continues to run in the state despite the country’s current declining economic state.

According to the governor, the programme offers a week-long package of events conceived to deliver an integrated plan of promotional and preventive service that are both cost-effective and useful for fostering maternal, newborn and child health in the society, noting that the administration remains committed to remitting its counterpart funds for the health programme in addition to providing a conducive environment for its successful implementation in the state.

The state’s commissioner for health, Dr. Sam Ngwu, commended institutional partners for their unrelenting commitment to rid the society of debilitating illnesses such as polio, asthma, among others.

Also, the Director of Public Health Services, Enugu State Ministry of Health, Dr. Okechukwu Osayi, said the one-week activities will include the dispensing of drugs, immunization and culinary instructions in open places such as schools, churches, hospitals, parks, and is free of charge.

Dr. Osayi thanked Governor Ugwuanyi for providing sufficient funds and other necessary logistics for the week-long programme and urged the people to avail themselves of the opportunity.

Representatives of the programme’s partners such as UNICEF’s Sir Ndu Anam and Barrister Emeka Eze of Rotary International, Enugu, District 940, reaffirmed their commitment to ensure that Nigeria remains free from polio and other childhood diseases.