The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) has disclosed that over 2,000 children in Lagos State have stunted growth due to malnutrition.
This revelation was made by the agency’s Nutrition Specialist, Ada Ezeogu, at a Media Advocacy Meeting by the National Orientation Agency (NOA), in collaboration with UNICEF.
The two-day event, which was held in Patron Hotel, Lekki, Sangotedo, with thrust on COVAX and RI (Routine Immunisation) Uptake in the state, was attended by 50 media practitioners.
The specialist also called for support to put an end to the health condition, which she explained affects a child as a result of malnutrition.
She lamented that the health condition is irreversible and limits the potential of the affected child in life.
Ezeogu said, “Also, there are implications for onset of adult non-communicable diseases like diabetes, and a tendency for a stunted or malnourished child to have it later in life.
“Once there is malnutrition, the child easily falls sick and the immune system is also compromised, increasing health cost because the child will be taken often to hospital.
“Also, that child may not be as good as one who is fully nourished in school and by implication, results in repetition of class. So all these have economic impacts in the economy and in the school system.
“So, if you have a child repeating or not paying attention fully or their attention span is reduced as a result of malnutrition, then you have implications for the education system and the health system.”
Ezeogu added that a child should be referred to a health centre, immediately he is screened and found to be severely malnourished.
She also said that the percentage of wasting in Lagos was higher than the global target of less than five per cent, stating that for Lagos to have a 6.4 per cent, translated into about 200,000 children in numbers.
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