The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) have pledged to intensify efforts to combat the growing issues of malnutrition and polio in Nigeria. At a recent meeting in Lagos, this collaboration, reinforced by the Diamond Award for Media Excellence (DAME), saw the three organizations commit to leveraging their expertise and influence to protect children.
UNICEF’s Nutrition Manager, Prosper Dakurah, emphasized the urgent need for states to provide counterpart funding to access the Child Nutrition Fund (CNF). This fund is crucial in the fight against malnutrition, which threatens approximately nine million children under five years old in Nigeria. Dakurah warned that without urgent action in 2024, millions of children would suffer from moderate to acute malnutrition.
The CNF is a financing mechanism designed to support sustainable policies, programs, and supplies aimed at ending child wasting. It assists government-led efforts in countries with high rates of child malnutrition. Dakurah noted that while states like Katsina, Jigawa, and Plateau have committed funding, others such as Adamawa, Ebonyi, and Gombe have not. He urged these states to expedite their contributions, highlighting that UNICEF would match any state’s counterpart fund.
The meeting also addressed resistance to immunization, attributed to cultural and social barriers. UNICEF Representative Cristian Munduate expressed frustration over misconceptions, lack of permission from husbands, and suspicions about free services, which prevent many parents from immunizing their children. She called for increased efforts from the government, traditional rulers, and the media to expand sensitization campaigns to change these behaviors.
Eze Anaba, President of NGE, acknowledged the enormity of UNICEF’s task in Nigeria, citing poverty as a major underlying factor that exacerbates disease spread and hinders healthcare access. He noted that conflicts in various regions, including the Southeast, further complicate health interventions.
The collaboration among UNICEF, DAME, and NGE aims to leverage their influence to address the challenges facing Nigerian children. Speaking in Lagos, DAME’s Founder and Trustee, Lanre Idowu, emphasized the need for increased engagement and best practices. Since 2005, UNICEF, DAME, and NGE have worked to promote children’s interests, and they seek to build on this foundation. Idowu urged editors to dedicate more space and airtime to issues affecting Nigerian children, reaffirming their commitment to upholding children’s rights to survival, education, protection, and development.
Ochola-Odongo reiterated the focus areas of the collaboration: polio eradication, resolving the nutritional crisis, and protecting children’s rights. She noted a resurgence of polio, with 225 cases reported in 67 local governments across 15 states in 2023. This year, 44 cases have been reported in 30 local governments in 10 states. The resurgence is attributed to banditry and lack of access to healthcare.
Dakurah highlighted the impact of malnutrition, noting that 31.8 million people in 25 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) suffer from food insecurity. Food inflation has soared from 24.8 percent in 2023 to 40.5 percent in 2024. Low rates of exclusive breastfeeding, with only 30 percent of nursing mothers adhering to the recommended six months, exacerbate the situation. He called for an extension of maternity leave to six months to support breastfeeding and improve child nutrition. Additionally, Dakurah urged governments to increase budget allocations to boost food production and supply.
Addressing the nutritional crisis requires a multi-faceted approach, including policy changes, increased funding, and community engagement.