6 in 10 children’s diet lack diversity, minimum frequency

In-house data from the United Nations Children’s Fund indicate only 37% (four in 10) of children get diversity in diet necessary to stave off malnutrition. UNICEF manager for infant and young child feeding, Christine Kaligirwa, gave the data as health educators and nutrition officers from states convened in Kaduna to draw up strategies to encourage […]

In-house data from the United Nations Children’s Fund indicate only 37% (four in 10) of children get diversity in diet necessary to stave off malnutrition.
UNICEF manager for infant and young child feeding, Christine Kaligirwa, gave the data as health educators and nutrition officers from states convened in Kaduna to draw up strategies to encourage better feeding practice for young children and infants.
The figure means feeding for nearly six in 10 children does not meet minimum dietary diversity. And children aged six to 12 months are mostly affected, with feeding for only 18% of them meeting minimum dietary diversity.
Regionally, only 24% of children’s meals in the North of the country meet the requirement.
Across the country, nearly one out of every two children does not get the number of meals considered minimum, according to the data.
Strategies from the meeting, under the auspices of UNICEF and the Child Rights Information Bureau (CRIB), are expected to guide public communication to improve feeding of infants and young children, said CRIB director, Dr Rose Madu.
The feeding practice range from early initiation of breastfeeding, toexclusive breastfeeding for six months,then complementary feeding alongside breast milk for up to two years, and feeding to meet diversity and frequency.