By Becky John
Prof. Ngozi Nnam, the National President, Nutrition Society of Nigeria, on Monday urged mothers to give their babies adequate nutrition for the first 1000 days of life to enhance brain development. Nnam told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the period was crucial as it determined the future, health, wellbeing and success of a child.
“We are emphasizing adequate nutrition for the first 1000 days of life. “The period when the brain is formed and brain completes its formation by the second birthday of a child.
“And, if any nutrient is deficient during these first two years of life, the role of that nutrient will not be performed.
“There will be insults in the brain formation, that is, you will have gaps. Some of the cells might not develop well.
“And the worrisome aspect of it is that it is irreversible, and child lives with that malformed brain, and will never do well in school, will never do well in any skill, because, brain controls whatever we do.
“The important thing is that, for these first two years of life, children should be given foods that are nutritionally adequate to provide all the nutrients required for proper development of that child, particularly proper development of the brain.’’
