UNICEF raises fresh concern over malnutrition in Southwest.
At the opening of a two-day media dialogue on child malnutrition in Ibadan on Monday, with theme “Good nutrition, invest more,
The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has expressed fresh concern over the level of malnutrition in the Southwest geo-political and attributed the situation to poor adherence to Exclusive Breast Feeding (EBF).
The UNICEF Communication Specialist, Mr Geoffrey Njoku, has said the assumption that malnutrition is only in the northern part of Nigeria is not true and misleading, quoting a 2013 survey, he said that the Southwest had 22 per cent stunted children under the age of five.
He said malnutrition was a national problem.
Njoku, also said malnutrition was a national problem as he narrated his Owerri hometown experience in Imo, said studies had shown that 13 per cent of children born to rich families also suffered malnutrition.
The Communication Officer of UNICEF, Mrs Blessing Ejiofor, also said that the Media Coalition against Malnutrition was aimed at creating opportunities for media advocacy on child nutrition through sensitization as it provides media partners with the knowledge and materials to support advocacy for child nutrition, acquaint the media with malnutrition situation in Nigeria with particular reference to child malnutrition.
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