12th March, 2023
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has urged mothers to give priority to maternal nutrition, the first 6-month exclusive breastfeeding and the first 1,000 days of a child’s life.
It described it as a golden window that must not be compromised.
Ada Ezeogu, UNICEF Nutritionist Specialist, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday, on the sideline of a media advocacy meeting by the National Orientation Agency (NOA), in collaboration with UNICEF.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the two-day programme attended by no fewer than 50 media practitioners was held in Patron Hotel, Lekki, Sangotedo, with a thrust on COVAX and RI (Routine Immunisation) Uptake in Lagos State.
Ezeogu said that the practice was important as it would extensively put a stop to forms of damage children encounter in their early life.
According to her, it is fundamental that children under two years are subjected to the right foods and exclusive breast milk for six months and that a combination of other nutrient-rich foods thereafter must not be compromised.
“The first 1,000 days is a golden window of a child’s mental and physical developmental life, because it is at that time that the brain is being built, a time that the lifelong for healthy living is laid.
“There is, therefore, every need for a woman to be well nourished before, during and after pregnancy as a child depends more on the mother for nutrient requirements, hence early initiation of breastfeeding is advised.
“Exclusive breastfeeding helps the child to develop mentally and physically, it is evidence of the child’s intelligence and general activities, as it’s an opportunity to ensure that they have a good start in life.
“The lack of vital nutrients from the point where pregnancy is confirmed and in the early stage of a child’s life results in problems such as stunted growth and wasting which is irreversible,” she added.
The Nutritionist pointed out that foods play a great role in a child’s development in terms of their physical and mental health and therefore, required that parents must live up to the basic needs to enable the child to do well in all ramifications.
Also speaking, Aderonke Akinola-Akinwole, UNICEF Social Behavioral Change Specialist, talked about the importance of parents taking the issue of their children’s first 1,000 days of life starting from conception to their second birthday very seriously.
Akinlola-Akinwole said that many parents, who should have had a deep knowledge of what they were supposed to do would make their newborns stay alive, healthy and thrive in life, were not living up to the task.
“We encourage pregnant women to patronise the right health facilities where we have skilled healthcare givers including birth attendants, attend regular antenatal care and practise exclusive breastfeeding after delivery of their babies,
“And most importantly, present them for the immunisations as required,” she said.