By Theresa Moses
The chance of a child to develop, learn, and thrive is significantly impacted by how well or how poor mothers and children are fed and cared for within the first 1,000 days of life.
This is also dependent on the period from conception to age two; a period which is crucial for a baby’s earliest developmental milestones, particularly brain development, needs good nutrition to set the foundations for a child’s long-term health.
Troubled by the mortality rate of children in Nigeria from preventable causes such as pneumonia, malaria, diarrhoea and measles, ignorance and lack of information about the chances of survival of a child between pregnancy and a child’s 2nd birthday, the National Orientation Agency in collaboration with United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF recently organised 2-day Media advocacy meeting to increase intake of Covid-19 Vaccine, (COVAX) and Routine Immunization in Lagos State.
According to UNICEF Nutrition Specialist, Ada Ezeogu; a brighter future begins with investing in the right nutrition during the first 1,000 days of life, referred to as the “golden window of opportunity”.
According to her, “This window can save more than a million lives annually, have a higher likelihood of birthing at a healthy weight; significantly reduce the human and economic burden of diseases such as tuberculosis, malaria, HIV/AIDS, reduce the risk for developing various non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, and other chronic conditions/disorder later in life, improved an individual’s educational achievement and benefit from better health and financial stability, increase the nation’s GDP annually.
Ezeogu also said a child’s developing brain and body suffer irreparable damage from malnutrition during the first two years of life, resulting in poor fetal growth or stunting causing permanent harm; including reduced offspring birth weight, shorter adult height, lower adult income, and lower adult education.
In her contribution, Social Behavioural Change Specialist, Aderonke Akinola –Akinwole, who spoke on child’s chance of survival, focussed on the first 1,000 days stated that every child stands the chance to survive and develop into an healthy and productive adult if given a good start in life which begins from the day the child is conceived, delivered and cared for in a clean and protected manner.
Akinwole emphasized that the first 1,000 days is a passport to a healthy and brighter future for every child if promoted behaviours are strictly adhered to. It is a unique period of opportunity when the foundations for optimum health and development across the lifespan are established. This, she reiterated that the health and well-being of a pregnant and lactating woman is directly connected to the growth and health of her infant.
According to experts, preventable causes of deaths of children are influenced by poor health seeking behaviour, health care, infectious diseases, nutrition and hygiene of the pregnant mother and child during the first 1000 days.
Neonatal deaths account for nearly 40 per cent of overall deaths of children under the age of 5. While access to prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) services is nearly universal, retention in care, poor infant feeding practices, as well as challenges with immunization coverage continue to jeopardize the health and development of babies and young children.
Antenatal care; delivery by skilled birth attendant; essential newborn care and routine immunization, undernutrition, maternal nutrition; early initiation and exclusive breastfeeding; infant and young child feeding and growth monitoring had close attention, wash and child protection were exhaustively deliberated upon during the meeting.
Media professionals were informed that every child have the right to a loving, safe environment, wholesome food, and essential medical treatment to keep them healthy, foster growth, and promote proper growth and development.
Share your story or I Witness Reports with us 24/7 via: SMS/ Whatsapp: +234(0)8072022024, Email: [email protected], follow us on our social media platform: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook:@Gatmash and Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: Gatmash TV.
Gatmash News is one of the most sought- after news portals, with increasing audience, exclusive breaking news and reports across the globe. Plus more. Website: https://gatmash.com
For advert placement, contact us today via email: [email protected] or call our hotlines on Tel: +234(0)8072022024
