Government

Civil Society Groups Raise Alarm over Increase Rate of Children Malnutrition

January 23, 2015

In recognition of balance diet and healthy nutrition as basic need for better growth of minors in Nigeria, the Civil Society Scaling-up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN) has advocated for the effective implementation of strategic plan of action on nutrition at all tiers of the Government.

In a press statement jointly signed by Association of Public Health Physicians of Nigeria, Federal Ministry of Health, Civil Society Scaling-up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN), Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Health Reform Foundation of Nigeria (HERFON) after the 31st National Scientific Conference organised by Association of Public Health Physicians of Nigeria in Makurdi, Benue state, CS-SUNN expressed its dissatisfaction over increasing percentage of stunted growth of children under age of five across the six geo-political zones of the country.

The NGO contend that malnutrition causes poor intellectual performance at schools and increases cases of chronic disease attack in children, adding that it is worrisome as a research recently shows nutritional status of children across six geo-political zones to be 55, 42, 29, 22, 18, 16 percent in the North-West, North-East, North-Central, South-West, South-South and South-East, respectively.

CS-SUNN solicited for urgent action by the governments against the menace as it submitted that nutrition remains a smart investment to accelerate economic progress and reduce stunting of children in the country.

While assuring Nigerians of its relentless effort to create awareness through seminars, conference, and public lectures on the policies and plans in favour of good nutrition, the NGO pledged to Support the domestication of the National Strategic Plan of Action on Nutrition across the federation as well undertake research that will promote maternal new-born and child health at all levels of the government.

By Yusuf An-Nuphawi