Two million under five Kano children too short – UNICEF

Administration of Vitamin A capsules by Gov. Abba Kabir on Friday at the 1st round of 2024 MNCHW Flag off

Published By: Paul Dada

By Maduabuchi Nmeribeh/Kano

The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), has revealed that out of over 3.4 million under-five years children in Kano, two million are affected by stunting due to malnutrition.

Stunting is a health condition in which a child has a low height for their age.

Mr. Rahama Rihood Mohammed, Chief of UNICEF Field Office, Kano, gave the figure of children affected by stunting in the state, at the flag off of the 2024 First Round of Maternal Neonatal Child Health (MNCH) Week at Ungwar Uku Primary Healthcare Centre, Tarauni Local Government Area, Kano State.

The programme was officially flagged off by the state Governor, Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf who reiterated his administration’s resolve to combat stunting among under five age children in the state.

Rahama said: “Kano state with population of about 17 million, has over 3.4 million children under-five years, out of which more than half (56.9%) are affected by stunting.

“This translates to about two million children affected in absolute numbers with consequences of poor cognitive development and poor productivity at adulthood.”

Rahama further stated that in Kano state, “we have a high burden of wasting with over half a million children under-five years of age affected, out of which over 120,000 are severely wasted with high risk of mortality.

” In Kano state, we have high levels of anaemia among children and women of reproductive age, with seven out of 10 children and four out of 10 women affected, respectively.”

He maintained that the Kano State government Executive Council needs to approve the developed State Food and Nutrition Policy and Multisectoral strategic plan of action for nutrition.

“The Government needs to provide adequate money for the Child Nutrition Match Fund.

“Kano state needs to provide funding for procurement of sufficient quantities of deworming tablets to complement vitamin A supplementation among children under-five during MNCHW campaign.

“Provision of RUTF to ensure the functionality of Out-Patient Therapeutic Programme (OTP) Sites for treatment of children with severe wasting.

“Considering the foregoing, UNICEF urges His Excellency the Kano State Executive Governor to act or direct action to be taken urgently on the following priorities:

“Immediate approval of State Food and Nutrition Policy and multi sectoral strategic plan of action for nutrition by the State Executive Council.

“Urgent provision of Government fund for the Child Nutrition Match Fund.

“Provision of Ready to Use Therapeutic Foods (RUTF) for reactivation of Out-Patient Therapeutic Programme (OTP) Sites for treatment of children with severe wasting through,” he added.

Rahama, however, noted that “the Government of Kano state is acting to address these challenges.”

He further stated that: “As a key partner of Governmnet, UNICEF’s is supporting the Kano state government to address nutrition deprivations including:

” Lead technical partner for the development of the State Nutrition policy and multisectoral strategic plan of action for nutrition.

“Support Government with development of annual nutrition operational plan with a focus on the first 1,000 days, incorporating Maternal, Infant and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN).

“Support government for scaling up Multiple Micronutrient Supplements (MMS) for prevention of anaemia among pregnant women and positive pregnancy outcomes in promotion of Maternal nutrition.

“Support government to scale up Micronutrient Powder (MNP) supplementation for prevention of anaemia in children.

“Support government with provision of adequate quantities of Vitamin A capsules for two rounds of supplementation of children 6-59 months to boost immunity and reduction of childhood morbidities and mortalities.

“Support government with provision of 8,000 bottles of Vitamin A capsules for the first round of MNCHW campaign. This is expected to reach 3,080,810 children 6-59 months to boost immunity and reduce childhood morbidities and mortalities

“Scaling up Maternal, Infant and Young Child Nutrition, including counselling of caregivers on appropriate feeding practices, provision of Micronutrient Powder (MNP) and promotion of dietary diversity for prevention of malnutrition among young children.

“Lead partner for the Technical Working Group with draft ToR developed and submitted to Government.

“Supporting Government and partners like MSF with supplies and capacity building for treatment of children with severe wasting with medical complications.”

Governor Yusuf, in his remarks said the state government was not relenting in its efforts to ensure that the menace of stunting and other nutrition issues that affect the growth and health of children in the state are checkmated.