By Rauf Oyewole
Bauchi State is said to be having the highest rate of children that are suffering from malnutrition with about 54,000 cases, according to the Chief of Field Office, Bauchi United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), Dr. Nuzhat Rafique.
Speaking on Thursday in Jos, Plateau State, during an advocacy meeting organised for Bauchi State local government chairmen on adequate funding for nutrition and child wellbeing.
According to her, she has seen children at the local level, at villages in Bauchi, particularly at the primary health care facilities about nutrition services, saying that the data on the children is “really worrying”.
“In Bauchi only, we are contributing about 54,000 children who are malnourished. Three out of ten children are severely malnourished. Out of 10, every three children are severely malnourished. And about six are moderately malnourished.
“They (moderately malnourished children) can go into severe management anytime. When I see that 13 LGAs in Bauchi out of 20, have children with zero dose…
“Not only that there are abundance of children with poor nutrition, but they are not also reached by the health system. They have never given any vaccination so they can have some immunity to resist diseases. Which makes these malnourished children even more vulnerable to very serious illnesses, like polio, even if we don't have polio now, but the risk always stays there,” she said.
Rafique said she's fond of the state government leadership in Bauchi and she had met Governor Bala Mohammed who showed dedication and commitment. She noted further that all health commissioners, LGAs chairmen, and directors of health are putting their best. “But when it comes to the communities, their culture, their behaviours, their practises… You (LGA chairmen) are the backbone of the state.”
“LGAs are the units that make the state and you people are the leaders in the LGA who can make or break the areas. If there is an LGA, which does not have any zero dose child, I would say that that is the real leadership of the chairman and the deputy chairman and the chairmen.
“There are very few LGAs in the State with no zero dose children. And the rest of the LGAs can learn from them. But my humble request is that every LGA should achieve that level of no child with zero dose.”
While remarking, Bauchi State Chairman, Association Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) and chairman of Bauchi local government, Mahmoud Babamaji, said that the zero dose in the local communities is “quite challenging”.
“I want to assure you that we have capable hands at the local government and by this, I assure you, insha'Allah. By the time we round up this session, We are going back home and sit with council members and the directors of primary health care facilities to ensure that no child is left behind. So we will support this program and we will ensure that your objectives and the goal is achieved.”
0 Comments