Enugu Govt Collaborates With UNICEF, Others To Tackle Mother, Child Nutritional Deficiency

BY EMMANUEL CHUKWUMA, ENUGU

As part of measures towards tackling challenges mitigating against healthy living for mothers children, and newborn babies such as poor nutrition, the Enugu State government, in collaboration with UNICEF, and other key stakeholders is offering a free week long medical services to residents across the 17 Council areas of the state.

Recalled that a Civil Society Scaling-Up Nutrition in Nigeria had in 2023, revealed that 14.8 per cent of under-five-year-old children in Enugu State are stunted, as a result of poor nutrition.

The group told newsmen in Enugu that the figure was contained in the National Demographic Health Survey adding that from the survey 6.1 per cent are underweight, while 2.5 per cent are wasted.

Frowning at the poor nutritional status of children in the state, the group called on the government to improve funding of nutrition activities and promotion of the importance of exclusive breastfeeding of newborns in the state.

The organisation stated that “this statistics translates to over 159,000 stunted children and over 24,000 wasted children in Enugu state.

Disturbed by the development , the state Ministry of Health, says the present administration under governor Peter Mbah’s watch is doing every thing within it’s powers to change the narrative.

Speaking during a media briefing on awareness creation on the forthcoming 1st round of 2024 Maternal Newborn and child Health Week (MNCHW), in the state scheduled to take place between 26th- 30, June, the state Commissioner for Health, Prof. Emmanuel Obi, stressed that the present Mbah led administration is deeply committed on issues relating to health, especially as it affects mother and child.

He explained that the briefing cooordinated by the State Ministry of Information and Communication, under the leadership of the commissioner, Hon. Aka Eze Aka in conjunction with the State Committee on food and Nutrition was aimed at partnering with the media in creating the needed awareness on the “1st Round of Maternal Newborn and Child Health Week (MNCHW) 26th-30th June 2024.

The Commissioner explained that the objective of this Media session was to create the needed Public Awareness of the event as well as assess the level of government preparedness towards the hosting of this year’s event and the would be beneficiaries, adding that it would also provide the public with information on the nutrition sensitive/specific issues during the weeklong event.

While calling on the mothers to embrace the programme in their respective designated government health facilities, across the 17 Council areas of the state.

He reiterated governor Mbah’s determination in reducing the state poverty index to zero percent, pointing out that such desire could only be realized when mothers are producing healthy children that would contribute to the growth of the state GDP and child mortality rate drastically reduced to the bearest minimum .

Prof. Obi highlighted that the Ministry is determined to ensure that the state has a robust and impressive health indices, stressing that the poor nutritional status of the state is being tackled.

In her comment, UNICEF Nutrition specialist, Enugu field office, Dr. Ngozi Onuoha, revealed that the Intervention by the state government shows that the the Enugu State government under governor Mbah is proactive and interested in issues concerning nutrition, especially amongst children and other health related matters, just like UNICEF.

She however, assured that UNICEF in performance of it’s corporate social responsibility will continue to partner with the state government in getting things done appropriately.

Dr. Onuoha, who disclosed that UNICEF has developed a multi sectoral Nutritional four years plan for Enugu state, urged the media to assist sensitize the women to embrace the programme for their own health benefits.

In her contribution, Executive Secretary, Enugu State primary Health Development Agency, Dr. Ifeyinwa Ani- Osheku, said nutrition matters is among the key issues her Agency promotes.

According to her, the nutrition status of Enugu state has not been encouraging as indicated in the study of 2018 by the nation’s Nutritional body, emphasising the need for all hands to be on deck by Stakeholders to change the narrative

She stated that any investment in Nutrition is a right step in the right direction, stressing that this provides key elements that helps the child to fight all killer infections and diseases

“So, we are going to use this one week to carry out a medical outreach in all the nook and crannies of the state, and will provide vitamin A to the children during the week, and also provide de-warming drugs to the children.

She revealed that Anemia is also a big health challenge that is part of Nutritional deficiency element in Women, pointing out that lack of proper diet has done serious harm to children.

Mrs. Uzoamaka Okenwa, who represented Wife of the State Governor, Nkechi Mbah, said the Enugu first family attaches much importance to issue of health, especially mother and child.

She said since inception, the administration has done so much in transforming the state health sector in All ramifications.