TACKLING THE MENACE OF MALNUTRITION

The authorities must do more to secure the future of our children

Childhood malnutrition has continued to take a devastating toll on our citizens through death and disability. Today, Nigeria remains home to the highest number of stunted children in Africa and ranks third globally – with more than 10 million of such children. Nigeria is also one of the six countries that account for half of all child deaths worldwide, with one million children under five years dying annually. To break it down, every hour, 100 children under five years die of malnutrition in Nigeria, according to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

Indeed, most recent reports indicate that one out of every three Nigerian children under the age of five is suffering from chronic malnutrition which implies a marked increase in susceptibility to infections and contributes to child mortality. Invariably, pregnant women who are not adequately nourished eventually give birth to babies with low weight thus putting their survival at risk.

The costs of disregarding this issue in human and economic terms cannot be quantified. Indeed, available statistics reveal that malnutrition is a major underlying factor for child mortality in Nigeria. Yet the malaise has not received the kind of high-profile campaign and investment necessary to address it effectively – in comparison with other causes of child mortality such as malaria and HIV/AIDS. Consequently, while child mortality rate caused by malaria has shrunk by a third since 2000, child malnutrition rate has decreased only by a mere 0.3% over the same period.

Unless government, at all levels, takes immediate steps to address hunger and malnutrition, especially in children and pregnant women, our poor indices on maternal and child mortality can only get worse. If concerted and deliberate action is not taken, 2.4 million more Nigerian children will be physically and mentally affected by malnutrition, over the next two years. Nigerians, as a minimum, deserve a life free from hunger in a country so blessed with arable land and natural resources.

Unfortunately, both poverty and hunger continue to saturate our country’s landscape. Hunger is both a cause and consequence of poverty, as people on low income tend to have worse diets, while people who lack adequate nutrition struggle harder to extricate themselves from poverty. It is disturbing that the authorities cannot address the causes of malnutrition that have continued to deprive over half of our children (and mothers) of a healthy and productive life span. The situation has been compounded by recent economic policies of the current administration that have further pauperized the people.

Our government needs to sit up and confront this challenge with resolute decisiveness to secure the future of our children. Political commitment is therefore necessary to ensure advocacy on the adverse implications of malnutrition and how to avoid its devastating consequences. Partnership with civil society and academic institutions with a focus on food and nutrition is also an imperative. But such political commitment is best demonstrated by a tangible increase in resource allocation, with the relevant Ministries and Agencies committing to establish a road map and coordinated mechanisms for implementing activities for up-scaling nutrition in the public sphere.

This road map should consist of clear roles and responsibilities for the various stakeholders, as well as implementable strategies; with milestones for mainstreaming nutrition into agriculture, fortifying basic foods with essential minerals or vitamins and mobilising communities for action on growing more beneficial foods. For effective health and social protection, mothers must also be encouraged to adopt exclusive breastfeeding habits for their babies in the initial six months of their lives. Thereafter, complementary feeding can be introduced for 24 months, then the consumption of various nutrients such as Vitamin A, iodized salt and zinc, amongst others.