The United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has sounded the alarm over the escalating cases of polio and malnutrition among Nigerian children, urging the government and citizens to take immediate action. Despite Nigeria being declared polio-free in 2020, UNICEF warns that the disease is re-emerging in various parts of the North.
According to UNICEF Representative in Nigeria, Cristian Munduate, malnutrition continues to lead to mortality, stunted growth, and cognitive and intellectual deficiency among affected children. Munduate, along with officials Dorothy Ochola-Odongo and Prosper Dakurali, emphasized the need for urgent intervention to address this trend.
"The current situation is alarming, and we need to act fast to prevent a further resurgence of polio and malnutrition," Munduate said. "We urge the government, traditional rulers, and the media to join forces in sensitizing the public on the importance of immunization and proper nutrition."
The officials noted that 72 million people in Nigeria lack access to safe drinking water, 64 million are multi-dimensionally poor, and 28 million children lack birth registration. Additionally, 9 million children suffer from acute malnutrition, 7.7 million are negatively impacted by conflicts in the Northeast, 3 million are internally displaced, and 2.3 million have zero dose children.
"These statistics are staggering, and we need to work together to address these challenges," Ochola-Odongo said. "Our partnership aims to promote children's survival, learning, protection, and development to their full potential."
The officials highlighted that many parents still reject immunization for their children due to various reasons, including religious beliefs, illness, and fear of side effects. They emphasized the need for behavior change and increased access to healthcare services.
Dakurali attributed the low exclusive breastfeeding rate to the constraints of career women in cities who only have three months of maternity leave. He advised government and private sector employers to increase maternity leave from three to six months.
The officials urged governments to intensify the fight against hunger and malnutrition by increasing budgeting to boost food production and supply. They also called for increased engagement and sensitization to address the nutritional crisis.
The partnership between UNICEF, DAME awards, and the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) aims to promote children's rights and address the challenges facing Nigerian children. The event brought together stakeholders from various sectors to discuss ways to collaborate and ensure the well-being of Nigerian children.