CIVIL Society-Scaling Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN) has decried over the increasing rate of malnutrition in Nasarawa state.
Addressing pressmen in Lafia on Tuesday during media pally organised by the NGO, the Executive Secretary, Beatrice Eluaka expressed concerns on the increasing rate of malnutrition, affirming that from available data from the National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS 2013) and the latest multiple indicator cluster survey (MICS 2017),” indicated a rise in the state’s malnutrition burden, which is the key contributor to infant and maternal mortality and morbidity”.
According to her, malnutrition is the leading factor for poor cognitive development and increasing severity of diseases of children and adversely affecting the under 5 children in the state.
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Mrs Eluaka, who expressed concerns on the non-reportage of nutritional value by the media, pleaded with journalists and state Government to prioritise nutrition of its citizens in order to stop its increase.
“The 2013 NDHS reported a stunting rate in Nasarawa state of 34.5 per cent while underweight and wasting rates were put at 20.9 per cent and 9.8 per cent respectively. The latest Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey ( MICS 2017) shows a higher rate of stunting at 37.2Â per cent, and lower rates of underweight and wasting at 20.7 per cent and 6.8 per cent respectively.” She stated
She added that stunting children under-five were conditioned of physical and intellectual impairment that has a lasting negative effect defined as low height for age.
He further stressed, “Most children with nutritional problems will end up as artisans instead of becoming Medical Doctors, Journalists, Lawmakers, Governors among others which may be their full potentials,” Eluaka said.
She also urged the Nasarawa State to improve budgetary allocation to nutritional related issues and ensure prompt release of the allocation as the only way of reducing malnutrition.
The Executive Secretary, therefore, called on the media to rise up to their responsibility of educating the public on nutritional issues and get the policy makers doing the needful towards curtailing malnutrition.
Similarly, Mercy Asso Nasarawa State Coordinator of CS-SUNN said malnutrition was responsible for most of the childhood death in the state.
She added that based on the records available to them 33 children died due to malnutrition in the state in 2017.
She therefore called on the government and other stakeholders to put all hands on deck to improve the nutritional status of the citizens.
On her part, Lilian Ajah-mong, Communication Officer of CS-SUNN, said that the organisation have offices in 20 states including Abuja the Federal Capital.
Ajah-mong therefore called on the Nasarawa State Government to increase maternity leave to six months to enable mothers administer exclusive brace feeding.
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