Dele Ogunyemi
26 August 2008
Ibadan — Oyo state commissioner for Health, Dr. Isaac Babalola has identified malnutrition as a major cause of child mortality in Nigeria, accounting for over 60 per cent of deaths of children under the ages od five while Vitamin A Deficiency (VAD) contributes 25.1 per cent.
The Commissioner made the remarks at Ikereku in Akinyele local government area yesterday at the launch of Vitamin A awareness campaign. The campaign was organised by Friesland Foods WAMCO Nigeria Plc, producers of Peak Milk, through the Olu Akinkugbe Child Nutrition Centre.
One out of every five children still dies before the fifth birthday, while 70 per cent of these deaths were "due to one or a combination of five major disease conditions addressed by the Integrated Management of Childhood Illness strategy which are Malaria, Acute Respiratory Tract infections especially Pneumonia, Diarrhoea, Measles and Malnutrition", Dr. Babalola said.
The Commissioner however, maintained that with improved Vitamin A status of children, their chances of survival would definitely be increased as, Vitamin A plays an important role in strengthening the body's resistance to infection and is essential for growth and development and prevents night blindness.
"Studies have shown that improving the Vitamin A status of children of 6-59 months dramatically increased their chances of survival by reducing all-cause mortality by 23 per cent; reducing Measles mortality by 50 per cent; reducing Diarrhoea disease mortality by 33 per cent", he said.
"The provision of Vitamin A directly contributes to the achievement of the 4th UN Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of reducing child mortality and the 5th MDG of improving maternal health.
"In addition, giving Vitamin A supplements improves child's sight, health, and saves health care cost. Inappropriate infant and young child feeding practices, inadequate food intake and micronutrient deficiencies are also major determinants of morbidity and mortality".
"While applauding the efforts of WAMCO Nigeria Plc and the Olu Akinkugbe Child Nutrition Centre in spearheading the community nutrition education campaign on Vitamin A, the Commissioner opined that it would contribute in no small measure to the improvement of the Vitamin A status of children in the country and increase their chances of survival.
He further stressed the need for the provision of adequate nutrition during infancy and early childhood saying this is basic requirement for the development and promotion of optimoum growth, health and behaviour of the child.
Earlier in an address, the managing director of Friesland Foods WAMCO Plc and chairman, Olu Akinkugbe Foundation, Mr. Kapil Garg disclosed that the initiative was the hallmark of a communique arising from the 3rd Olu Akinkugbe Child Nutrition Seminar on the theme "Micronutrient.
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