Over 2300 Under-5 Nigerian Children Die Daily —Federal Ministry Of Health

Children at orphanage home in Nigeria

Despite global efforts to stem child mortality around the world, indications emerged yesterday that over 2,300 children, under the ages of five, die daily in Nigeria from malnutrition and other childhood killer diseases.

The Head of Nutrition at the Federal Ministry of Health, Dr. Chris Isokpunwu, made this known yesterday while addressing participants at a two-day media dialogue on child nutrition, with the theme, Good Nutrition – An Investment for the Future.

He stated that malnutrition was responsible for 53 percent of the deaths while a combination of other childhood killer diseases made up the figure.

Dr. Isokpunwu, who attributed the surge in cases of malnutrition, child and infant mortality to failure of mothers to apply themselves to the rules of exclusive breastfeeding of babies, and improper feeding, said the development was a serious issue that required the attention of governments at all levels, stakeholders in the health sector and Nigerians in general.

 “The worrisome aspect of it all is the fact that the level of malnutrition among mothers and pregnant women has also led to about 14 percent of our children being stunted at birth”