Agency About 50 per cent of infant-maternal deaths in Nigeria have been attributed to malnutrition by the Kwara State Commissioner for Health, Dr Amina El-Imam. She stated this in Ilorin the state capital on Tuesday, during the opening of a five-day training of Maternal-Infant Young Child Nutrition Training of Trainers in Ilorin. The training was organised by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the Kwara Ministry of Health, with the support of the World Bank for state-level Training of Trainers.
The commissioner said that the training is expected to increase the pool of trainers for the step down of training to health facilities in the state. According to El-Imam, inadequate nutrition has far-reaching consequences on children and the nation at large. “The provision of adequate nutrition during pregnancy, breastfeeding, infancy and early childhood remains an important means of addressing malnutrition, thus promoting optimum growth, health and behaviour of mother and child.
“The first 1,000 days, that is, from conception to a child’s second birthday is recognised as a critical period during which adequate nutrition should be provided for growth, development and attainment of full potential.” She further explained that developmental delays, impaired educational ability, a lifetime of poor health, increased risk of chronic diseases and early death are some of the effects of malnutrition. The health commissioner, therefore, stressed the need to equip heal.