According to Experts, malnutrition contributes to more than one-third of all child deaths worldwide and accounts for over fifty percent of under-five deaths in Nigeria.
In Oyo state, a survey showed that 30.1%, 17.2%, and 22.1% of children in Ibadan north and 40.6%and 13.9% in Ido local government were stunted, overweight, and obese respectively.
To address the trend, the project coordinator facilitating nutrition in Nigeria, Oyo state, Dr. Khadijat Alarape, said efforts are ongoing to drastically reduce the prevalence of under-five malnutrition in Oyo state.
The World bank coordinator (ANRIN) made the remark while speaking at a quarterly media engagement on infant and young child feeding practices in Ibadan the Oyo state capital.
Dr. Alarape described ANRIN as a world bank project targeting the reduction and prevention of malnutrition among under five in Oyo state as a game-changer.
‘ The project within the next three years will create access to interventions like deworming tablets, zinc or, vitamin A as well counseling for mothers. ‘
The state coordinator, civil society scaling up nutrition in Nigeria, pastor Adio Olusegun said nutrition goes beyond food intake to overall child development.
Also speaking, The Assistant Chief Dietitian, University Teaching Hospital Ibadan, Mrs. Taibat Motunrayo Oduneye pointed out that malnutrition may be responsible for over 10.6 million deaths annually.
The high level of malnutrition among under-five Nigerian Children is largely due to poor infant and young children-friendly practices.
Mrs. Oduneye harps on the need for exclusive breastfeeding for the child’s first six months to achieve optimal growth, development, and health.