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.
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