From Maurice Okafor, Enugu.
UNICEF has advocated for compulsory good nutrition for every new born baby for the first 1000 days after birth,describing it as a panacea for healthy living and best way to prevent stunted growth in the life of every child.
Some UNICEF officials dropped this hints at the recent stakeholders and Private sector workshop on how to advance partnership for enhancing child nutrition in the state with theme, “Prioritizing Investment in Maternal, Infant, Young Child and Adolescent Nutrition”.
The UNICEF Chief Field officer, Mrs Juliet Chiluwe,stressed that evidence shows that getting the right nutrients at the right time is critical for healthy growth of every child.
She lamented that Enugu State has stunting (growth) rate of 15 per cent, approximately 147,816 children are shorter than expected height for their age, with associated poor cognitive functions.
She called for concerted efforts between UNICEF in partnership with Enugu State and other stakeholders to achieve the agenda of well-fed and healthy children.
Her words,’ This meeting offers an opportunity for awareness creation and high level advocacy on the importance of nutrition to the survival and general well-being of women and children as well as its impact on productivity, economic growth and national development’.
“The event is very strategic as policy makers from the state and local governments, relevant Federal stakeholders and the private sector are present to reinforce government support for the state to expand it’s scope of the nutrition programme’.
“This programme, which has been at the three pilot LGAs since 2019, roll out planned strategies and community innovations to tackle nutrition issues especially in the first 1000 days, with expectations of breaking the inter-generational cycle of under-nutrition within Enugu State’..
Another UNICEF official,Mrs Ngozi Onuoha,buttressed that the first 1000 days in the life of every child deserves adequate nutrition for both mother and child as a measure of promoting healthy living and to prevent stunted growth.
She disclosed the adequate nutrition for the first 1000 days should commence from the first day of conception of the pregnancy till after the Child’s second birthday. She cautioned that exclusive breast feeding for every new born child should start an hour after delivery,consecutively for six months. Thereafter,the feeding the complementing liquids foods[Pap] should be mixed with quality nutrients.
In his Speech, the Director, Head Micro nutrients Deficiency Control in Federal Ministry of Health,Chief John Uruakpa, explained that countries are rated according to their ability to feed their citizens and ensure that they are healthy to enhance national optimal health and productivity.
Uruakpa stated, “The issue of tackling malnutrition, under-nutrition and stunt growth must be taken seriously. We have Micro Nutrient Powder (MNP) for children already stunted to recover and Ready-made to Use Therapeutic Food for supporting nutrition of children not to get under-nutrition’.
He advised that the advocacy on good nutrition for mother and child should be taken to the rural communities and primary health care centers in Enugu state.
He stated, “There is need for the continual coordination of the stakeholders and we should take this advocacy and action to the rural communities and primary healthcare center’..
The Enugu Governor,Lawrence Ugwuanyi, who was represented by his deputy,Hon Mrs Cecelia Ezeilo,said the state government has approved a counterpart fund for value-added foods to treat and check under-nutrition and stunted growth in all children in the state.
He said that the growing level of stunt growth, which is getting about one to every five children, must be checked; and the government remained fully committed to do that.
‘The state government will shore up the nutritional needs of children under five and this will further reduce infant mortality in the barest minimum in the state’.
He extolled UNICEF, other international and local health partners as well as other stakeholders in ensuring that the state gets it right and rank among the states with the highest well-fed and well-nourished children in the country.
Earlier in his speech,The Enugu state Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Dr David Ugwunta, assured that the workshop will produce concrete and actionable plans and advocacy programmes that will be followed up and implemented to get positive desirable outcomes.
The State Health Commissioner, Prof. Ikechukwu Obi, explained that proper nutritional balance diet for all residents especially for children was an integral part of optimal health and re-emphasis the quality of life.
He described basic health as a necessity for the residents to get on with their various activities.
