Only two out of 10 children are exclusively breastfed in Katsina State - UN report
A 2022 report supported by the United Nations found that only two out of 10 children are exclusively breastfed in Katsina State.
The survey, released Monday, was conducted by the Multi-Indicator Survey Cluster (MICs), supported by the UN Standing Committee on Nutrition.
United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Nutrition Director El Hadji Diop presented the survey during a media dialogue on exclusive breastfeeding from 0 to 6 months in focusing on zero water, Wednesday evening in Katsina.
He expressed the need for the state government and other stakeholders to redouble their efforts to improve exclusive breastfeeding in the state.
Mr. Diop, who has said that children who are not exclusively breastfed are easy victims of malnutrition, said, "Breastfeeding serves as babies' first vaccine, protecting them against common childhood illnesses." p>
Me Diop said: "With exclusive breastfeeding, a child is assured of its development and survival and without it, a child risks not developing both mentally and physically.
“According to the 2022 MIC report, only two out of 10 children are exclusively breastfed in Katsina. With only two out of 10 having a better chance of development and survival. This means that eight out of 10 people are at risk of malnutrition, which is indeed unacceptable.”
READ ALSO:He called on the state government to invest heavily in exclusive breastfeeding as a precaution against other childhood illnesses, especially malnutrition.
Mr. Diop said the Sustainable Development Goals target 50% exclusively breastfed babies by 2030.
More worrying statistics
Mr. Diop noted that the statistics on the welfare of children in Katsina are worrying.
"As many as 1.24 million children under five in Katsina state are stunted due to malnutrition. 1.2 million children under five were anaemic, while 82,492 were wasted."
He said most problems could be solved with exclusive breastfeeding.
Media Dialogue Participants on Exclusive...
A 2022 report supported by the United Nations found that only two out of 10 children are exclusively breastfed in Katsina State.
The survey, released Monday, was conducted by the Multi-Indicator Survey Cluster (MICs), supported by the UN Standing Committee on Nutrition.
United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Nutrition Director El Hadji Diop presented the survey during a media dialogue on exclusive breastfeeding from 0 to 6 months in focusing on zero water, Wednesday evening in Katsina.
He expressed the need for the state government and other stakeholders to redouble their efforts to improve exclusive breastfeeding in the state.
Mr. Diop, who has said that children who are not exclusively breastfed are easy victims of malnutrition, said, "Breastfeeding serves as babies' first vaccine, protecting them against common childhood illnesses." p>
Me Diop said: "With exclusive breastfeeding, a child is assured of its development and survival and without it, a child risks not developing both mentally and physically.
“According to the 2022 MIC report, only two out of 10 children are exclusively breastfed in Katsina. With only two out of 10 having a better chance of development and survival. This means that eight out of 10 people are at risk of malnutrition, which is indeed unacceptable.”
READ ALSO:He called on the state government to invest heavily in exclusive breastfeeding as a precaution against other childhood illnesses, especially malnutrition.
Mr. Diop said the Sustainable Development Goals target 50% exclusively breastfed babies by 2030.
More worrying statistics
Mr. Diop noted that the statistics on the welfare of children in Katsina are worrying.
"As many as 1.24 million children under five in Katsina state are stunted due to malnutrition. 1.2 million children under five were anaemic, while 82,492 were wasted."
He said most problems could be solved with exclusive breastfeeding.
Media Dialogue Participants on Exclusive...
What's Your Reaction?
