Acute malnutrition reason for stunting of 23% Cross River toddlers – UNICEF

Twenty-three per cent of children under five years in Cross River State are stunted as a result of severe malnutrition, according to UNICEF.

UNICEF Field Officer, Dr Ngozi Onuora, a nutrition specialist, disclosed this when the management of the State Planning Commission and UNICEF Field Office, Abuja, paid a familiarization visit to Governor Bassey Otu in his office in Calabar.

She noted that the development has a negative effect on the productivity of the babies.

However, she acknowledged the efforts of the State Government to make nutrition more inclusive.

According to Mrs Onuora, “The State has done well in child’s rights, but on exclusive breast feeding the Cross River data is very low.

“UNICEF is happy that many Ministries, Departments and Agencies in the state now have nutrition in their budgets. But we need government to invest more on it.”

Represented by the deputy governor, Peter Odey, Otu welcomed the UNICEF team and confirmed that the public presentation of the State Policy on Nutrition has been approved.