Civil society urge more action on nutrition in Nigeria

On 4 August 2017, Nigeria’s Media Centre Against Child Malnutrition (MeCAM) organised a one-day symposium on “Malnutrition, Child Development and the Media”. Accordingly, participants took the opportunity to amplify their voices and urge the Federal Government to invest more resources into nutrition programmes. Furthermore, the grouped stressed the need for awareness campaigns to prevent the underlying causes of malnutrition in addition to programmes which address those who suffer from malnutrition.

L-R: Project Manager Civil Society Scaling-Up Nutrition in Nigeria, Mr. Okoronkwo Sunday; Junior Associate, Scaling Up Nutrition Business Network, Nigeria, Miss Ibiso Ivy King-Harry; Chairman of Occasion, Board of Trustee Member, Media Centre Against Child Malnutrition (MeCAM)/Past President Nutrition Society of Nigeria, Prof. Babatunde Oguntona; National Coordinator, MeCAM, Mr. Remmy Nweke; and Board Member MeCAM, Dr. Aminu Magashi Garba, during the One-Day Nutrition Symposium on Malnutrition, Child Development and the Media in Lagos

Participants at the symposium took the opportunity to amplify their voices and urge the Federal Government to invest more resources into nutrition programmes. Furthermore, the grouped stressed the need for awareness campaigns that prevent the underlying causes of malnutrition. No doubt, this would be in addition to continuing programmes which help those who already suffer from malnutrition.

With the failure of government to tackle high malnutrition in the country, Nigeria now has poorly nourished children which will ensure that the country remain underdeveloped and backward.”

Professor Babatunde Oguntona, former president of the Nutrition Society of Nigeria.

Sunday Okoronkwo, a project manager at the Civil Society on Scaling Up Nutrition Nigeria (CS-SUNN), spoke on behalf of the society’s Director, Beatrice Eluaka. Above all, he explained that the country does not have proper funding to address the problem of malnutrition and warned that the figure of 11m Nigerian children being stunted, may be a poor representation of the reality.

Dr. Aminu Garba, chairman of the Community Health and Research Initiative, called for a declaration of emergency on malnutrition and sustained media engagement. These calls were among many other recommendations to address the issue which has many complex causes, including cultural claims. Consequently, Remmy  Nweke, national coordinator of MeCAM, said they will leave no stone unturned in their bid to create awareness on the dangers of malnutrition in the country.

Related links to civil society in Nigeria

• Sundiata post: Malnutrition: Commit To Awareness Campaign To Prevent Disease – Stakeholders Tells FG
• The Womens Torch: Nigeria: At least 11 Children Die of Malnutrition Every 30 Minutes
• Vanguard NGR: MALNUTRITION: 10m Nigerian children risk mental deformity in adulthood
• Environews Nigeria: Malnutrition: 13% of Nigerians risk being mentally deformed
• CS-SUNN website: http://www.crhnigeria.org/

Happening Now. Nutrition Symposium on the Malnutrition, Child development and Media. @CS_SUNN @CHRNaija @SUNBizNetNG @wandieville pic.twitter.com/jqJoaD0PDQ

— SBN Nigeria (@SUNBizNetNG) August 4, 2017