By Mohammed Lawal
Makarfi – The Kaduna State Ministry of Health has began an awareness campaign in communities to stem rising cases of acute malnutrition in the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the campaign, run in collaboration with UNICEF, is aimed at sensitising rural dwellers on the intake of balanced diet which is cheaply available in the locality.
Hajiya A’isha El-Rufa’i, wife of the state governor, said in Makarfi on Thursday at a one-day stakeholders meeting on community mangement of acute malnutrition, that the government was deeply concerned.
She said that acute malnutrition sets in before pregnancy, and the only remedy was access to balance diet.
“I therefore task men on the need to give women balanced diet before, during and after birth,” the governor’s wife said.
She said the sensitisation would be conducted house-to-house, so that malnutrished children could be referred to designated health centres for therapy.
Mrs El-Rufa’i said that the government had released about N37 million to procure UNICEF standard food and drugs for malnourished children in the state.
She pleaded for support and cooperation from parents, to always take affected children to health centres for appropriate attention.
In his speech, the State Commissioner for Health, Mr Paul Dogo said malnutrition was generally a disease found among women and children under five.
Dogo, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Alhaji Ibrahim Jere said the disease affects the physical structure and mental ability of victims.
The commissioner disclosed that about 169 death per live birth was being recorded in the state.
UNICEF Chief, Kaduna Field Office, Mr Utpal Moitra observed that malnutrition require collective efforts to address.
“Malnutrition requites collective efforts of stakeholders because it cannot be addressed by an individual.
“Given the number of children suffering from malnutrition in the state, we need to do more.”
He stressed the need for structures to be established and maintained, apart from regular meetings, reviews, assessments and consistent evaluation.
“It is not acceptable just because of lack of food children are dying in the state”, the UNICEF chief said.
In a paper entitled: `Current Nutrition Situation in Kaduna State’, Mrs Jane Gwani, a Nutrition Officer, attributed malnutrition to inadequate intake of balanced diet.
Quoting the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey 2013, Gwani said 52 per cent of children in the state were stunted while 42 per cent were wasted.
The Chairman, Interim Management Committee, Makarfi Local Government, Malam Shehu Muhammad advised parents to place emphasis on the nutrition of their children.
“It is our tradition that big persons in the house eats big meet, but in the actual sense it is the children that need balanced diet the most.
“As an adult, you have eaten enough of good food of your own.
“Give the children fish, give them meet, give them all sort of balanced diet to enable them grow healthy,” he pleaded.