By Asmau Ahmad
The Head of Health, Save the Children, Nigeria, Dr. Abimbola Williams, has stressed the need for exclusive breastfeeding in order to reduce malnutrition in children. Dr. Williams said this at a news briefing in Abuja to launch the three years campaign on ‘Every Last Child’.
She said that the new campaign was geared toward reaching the most excluded children, the refugees, girl-child, children living with disabilities and children on the streets.
She added that early initiation of breastfeeding was key to combating malnutrition.
“When babies are born, it is advisable to breastfeed them immediately to keep them warm. We have initiated a project called Working to Improve Nutrition in Northern Nigeria (WINNN) aimed at providing nutrition interventions by focusing on micronutrients.
“We want to improve nutrition in children by focusing on micronutrients supplementation, iron folate for pregnant women, vitamin A and deworming of children under five years,” she said.
Williams said that the WINNN programme was implemented in Bakura, Shinkafi and Bungudu Local Government Areas of Zamfara state.
She explained that well-nourished children would experience improved brain formation, physical development and strong immune system to fight against diseases.
She noted that that in Nigeria, undernourished children were more likely to die from common childhood ailments and those that survived would experience recurring sicknesses and stunted growth.
The Advocacy and Campaign Coordinator, Mr. Ekene Ifedilichukwu, said government should ensure that appropriate fund was released and utilised at the national, state and local levels to take care of children’s nutrition.
“If this is achieved, the environment will be protected and family will also eat good foods that will reduce malnutrition,” he added.
