The Anambra State chapter of the Nigerian Civil Society
Scale-up Nutrition, a Non-Government Organisation (NGO), has alleged that 18
per cent of children in the state under the age of five suffer from malnutrition-based
stunted growth, reports NaijaAgroNet.
The Local Working Group Coordinator for the NGO, Dr. Moses
Ohamaeme, told newsmen at the state capital, Awka at the weekend that a survey
conducted in the South east region by the organisation showed that Anambra
State is worst hit in child malnutrition.
NaijaAgroNet also reports that Ohamaeme pointed out that
malnutrition is severe among children with low milk consumption as well as
those whose mothers had limited knowledge of its impact, stressing that
malnourished babies have a higher risk of dying at infancy and are more likely
to face life-long cognitive challenges capable of leading to poor school
performance and chronic health problems.
He equally said that malnutrition in children usually
manifest in form of wasting which Ohamaeme described as low weight for height,
stunting as low height for age and underweight as low weight for age.
Lamenting this situation in a state like Anambra, reputed
for abundant human and material resources, Dr. Ohamaeme emphasized that malnutrition
and its related diseases are still an issue in public health in Anambra State.
The state also has the lowest median of Exclusive Breast Feeding (EBF) in the
zone.
“Even though EBF in the first six months is proven to be
effective in preventing children from malnutrition, the practice is still very
low in Anambra State,” he said.
The Group Coordinator in Anambra State, further urged the
state government to create nutritional budget lines in the state ministries of
health, primary health care development agency, education, economic planning, and
agriculture.
In addition, the NGO said, local governments and the state
House of Assembly should as matter of urgency similarly make certain the inclusiveness
of funding for maternal child and adolescent nutrition centre among others.
NaijaAgroNet recalls that on 14 November 2011, the Federal Republic of Nigeria
joined the global Scale-Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement with a letter of commitment
from then Minister of Health, Dr. Onyebuchi Chukwu.
Noteworthy is
that then, Nigeria recognised the role of nutrition as a development issue and
had committed to addressing malnutrition with the adoption of a National Health
Strategic Development Plan which recognises nutrition as an important
component.
Emeka Ozo/GEE
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