2 weeks ago
31
By Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
UNICEF’s Country Representative to Nigeria, Cristian Munduate, recently visited Zamfara State, noting both advancements and on-going challenges in child welfare. She praised the state for renovating nearly 170 primary health care centres, which enhances access to essential services. However, she stressed the need for increased government funding and accountability to sustain these improvements.
Munduate expressed concern over high rates of severe acute malnutrition in northern Nigeria, worsened by poverty and cultural practices. She called for better nutrition education and community involvement to address this issue. Additionally, she highlighted the alarming number of out-of-school children and early marriages, advocating for girls’ education and community leader engagement.
She noted that despite UNICEF’s efforts to provide Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Foods (RUTFs) for malnourished children, serious challenges remain, including reports of RUTFs being misappropriated or sold locally. She said these issues undermine the effectiveness of these critical resources in combating malnutrition.
What are the key takeaways for you on your recent trip to Zamfara?
The progress in Zamfara is notable; when there is a collective desire to advance, success follows. During my observations, I noted that while many initiatives are just beginning, they are moving forward at a commendable pace.
Currently, nearly 170 primary healthcare centres have been renovated, and there is a strong push to accelerate this momentum. This development is promising, as functional health centres will significantly enhance community access to healthcare services.
However, further acceleration is essential, which will require an increased budget.
During my recent visit, I had the opportunity to speak with the governor of Zamfara, who shared that tax collection in the state has improved significantly. This positive change indicates that residents are willing to pay their taxes because they can see tangible results. Consequently, this could lead to a more robust state budget that prioritises health and education—areas that desperately need attention.
This is a crucial aspect of public administration, highlighting the collaboration between UNICEF and the government. UNICEF provides technical assistance, resources, and supplies, but there must also be a reciprocal commitment from the government, especially in health.
In Zamfara, many communities are difficult to reach and lack health facilities, which makes community health workers essential. However, timely payment for these workers has been a challenge.
UNICEF supports those involved in polio initiatives and is working to improve payment timeliness. Although recent system changes have caused some delays, we remain dedicated to ensuring timely payments.
Additionally, we expect community health workers and volunteers across health and nutrition sectors to perform their duties with integrity. While this issue is less pronounced in Zamfara, Sokoto has reported instances of fraudulent (fake finger markings) immunisation claims. Therefore, I urge communities to assist us in monitoring these activities effectively.
We greatly value the efforts of our colleagues; however, there are a few who are not meeting performance expectations. We hope that communities can assist us in overseeing their work.
In terms of health, progress is being made, but nutrition remains a significant challenge across northern states. Severe acute malnutrition is a widespread issue throughout the country, particularly concentrated in the north due to factors such as poverty, violence, insecurity, and certain cultural practices. This unfortunate situation has resulted in hundreds of thousands of children suffering from severe acute malnutrition.
In the northern region alone, we are approaching nearly one million affected children. The government declared a food emergency last year, which has further impacted these vulnerable populations. Fortunately, many northern governors have pledged to allocate funds for this crisis, and UNICEF is matching these contributions to procure therapeutic food essential for saving lives. This food is intended for extreme cases.
When a child is on the brink of death, this treatment can aid in their recovery. However, I noted yesterday that while physical recovery is possible, we must also be concerned about the long-term effects on their intellectual development. This treatment is costly and requires significant resources.
Each state has established stabilisation centres to address the needs of severely malnourished children. However, our focus must shift toward prevention. We cannot afford to see the number of children with severe acute malnutrition rise from 1.5 million this year to 2 million next year and 2.5 million the following year. To achieve a reduction in these numbers, we need a collective effort to secure food systems—an area that falls outside UNICEF’s direct capabilities.
We may not be experts in food production, but one of our key responsibilities is to support the health system and help all sectors understand how to educate people on the best ways to provide adequate nutrition for their children. Often, people attribute poor child nutrition to poverty, saying, “We are poor, so we cannot feed our children properly.” While this is a valid challenge, it’s important to emphasise that from birth to six months, babies need nothing but breast milk—not just to survive, but to thrive and stay healthy.
To address this, we rely heavily on religious leaders, local leaders, and traditional authorities. Their influence is vital because the communities they serve trust and follow their guidance. These leaders must actively promote exclusive breastfeeding as the best way to nourish children during their first six months of life. By doing so, they can help ensure that families understand the importance of breastfeeding for their children’s health and survival.
However, we must also acknowledge the challenges many mothers face. Some women are in poor nutritional health themselves—they may be anaemic or underweight. Many adolescent girls already have two or three children before their bodies are fully developed and prepared for motherhood. With each pregnancy and delivery, their health weakens further. By the time these women reach their 40s or 50s, they often suffer from conditions like osteoporosis and other long-term health issues.
It’s clear that mothers need proper nourishment to care for themselves and their children. For example, during my visit, I spoke with a mother about her diet and her baby’s diet. She explained that they primarily eat rice and a type of flour-based food known as kunu. Understanding what kunu is made from is crucial; if it contains corn or peanuts, it can be a good source of protein. However, if the diet consists mostly of carbohydrates without sufficient protein or other nutrients, it may lead to weight gain without providing true nourishment.
We strongly advocate collaboration with various radio stations and media outlets that can reach remote geographical areas. Our goal is to develop programmes that educate communities about the best nutritional practices for mothers and their children.
The importance of breastfeeding
Mothers need to prioritise their health by consuming adequate food and fluids, which naturally supports milk production. It’s crucial for mothers to initiate breastfeeding immediately after childbirth. However, we must delve deeper into the reasons why some children are not breastfed.
I’ve encountered numerous stories highlighting misconceptions surrounding breastfeeding. Some believe that breast milk is inadequate, while others worry that breastfeeding will lead to physical changes, such as sagging breasts. Ultimately, the well-being of the child should be the primary concern for any mother.
A significant barrier to breastfeeding appears to be a lack of information. Many women are unaware of the critical importance of breastfeeding and mistakenly believe that providing water or other liquids during the first month, followed by solid foods after six months, is sufficient. This misconception is detrimental and needs to be corrected.
To tackle this issue, we should consider organising focus group discussions with media representatives. These discussions would not centre on statistics about child suffering but rather on strategies to effectively disseminate information through radio, television, and social media. While traditional newspapers may not be the most effective medium, creative outreach can ensure our message reaches a wider audience.
The role of nutrition in prevention
Nutrition should be viewed primarily as a preventive measure. Unfortunately, in some communities, government initiatives involving Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Foods (RUTFs) face challenges. Despite UNICEF funding these resources for children in need, monitoring reveals troubling practices—such as finding boxes filled with stones instead of RUTFs or reports of these essential foods being sold in local markets.
It is imperative that mothers understand the importance of RUTFs for their children’s health and resist the temptation to sell them. RUTFs are specifically designed for malnourished children and have no benefit for adults; consuming them could disrupt metabolism and pose health risks.
The challenges we face stem from various sources, and it’s essential to engage all stakeholders in a unified effort to ensure proper care for children. Bringing a child into the world comes with significant responsibilities that extend beyond parents to families and communities at large.
We must promote positive messages emphasising that caring for children is a collective responsibility. By fostering a common understanding of these issues, we can work together towards a healthier future for our children.
Given the high percentage of out-of-school children and the alarming rates of child marriage reflected in your statistics, what new strategies will UNICEF implement to address these issues?
Child marriage is a pressing issue, and there are several effective strategies that have been successfully implemented in various countries. For instance, India has classified child marriage as a felony, leading to legal consequences for those involved. In contrast, Nigeria has set the legal marriage age at 18; however, cases persist where girls as young as 16 are already mothers, often having children at 14.
Countries addressing this issue take different approaches. Some focus on enforcing laws similar to India’s, where offenders face imprisonment. Others engage religious and community leaders to promote behavioural changes and discourage the practice, emphasizing its negative impact on families and communities. The staggering number of girls that are married young contributes to maternal and infant mortality rates, perpetuating cycles of poverty.
To combat teenage pregnancies, enhancing girls’ education is crucial. Studies indicate that educated women are more productive and can better support their families. Therefore, a multi-faceted approach is necessary:
Enact supportive policies: While drastic measures like that of India may not be required, it’s vital to educate communities about the negative implications of child marriage.
Community engagement: Raising awareness about how child marriage exacerbates economic hardship can shift perceptions.
Uphold girls’ rights: It’s essential to recognize that these girls are still children, often deprived of normal childhood experiences.
Addressing these factors holistically can lead to significant improvements in the lives of young girls and their communities.
To foster a deeper understanding among men regarding the consequences of their actions, we must focus on promoting behavioural changes. This is crucial because, while there has been significant investment in empowering women and addressing educational gaps for girls, we must also engage men in this conversation.
Many discussions centre around the need to educate girls, which is undeniably important. However, we cannot overlook the necessity of addressing men’s perspectives and behaviours. I have encountered young mothers, some as young as 15 and others in their 30s or 35s, who illustrate this point vividly. For instance, during a visit to Bama Camp, I met a 38-year-old mother with around 10 children. She was running a small business selling fruits, vegetables, and grains, surrounded by children who I mistook for children from the neighbourhood.
When I spoke with her, I noticed how tired she looked—she appeared much older than her age. Upon asking about her exhaustion, she revealed that while she didn’t want more children, her husband insisted on having them. This raises an important question for our audience, especially men: How much pressure do women face to have child after child?
We must consider the implications of bringing children into the world without the means to care for them properly. If we choose to have children, it should be to nurture and support them, not to subject them to hardship. Additionally, the notion that educating girls is detrimental is a harmful myth. In truth, educating women leads to wealth and positive outcomes for families.
I’m encouraged by recent developments, such as the federal minister’s support for integrating formal education into Almajari centres in Zamfara. This initiative represents a significant step toward improving educational opportunities for all children, regardless of gender. It’s essential that we continue to advocate for these changes and work collaboratively to create a more equitable society.
Why is it necessary for teachers to teach in Hausa as part of the UNICEF Reading and Numeracy Activity (RANA) programme?
This discussion focuses on the essential skills of reading and writing in Hausa, as well as mastering basic arithmetic like addition and subtraction. These skills are crucial for anyone engaged in work that involves financial transactions or measurements. For instance, if I am cultivating a certain area for yam production, I need to manage my expenses and calculate my working hours effectively. This knowledge enables me to sell my products profitably at the market.
These foundational skills are vital. Throughout my field trip, I encountered the notion that Western education often overlooks these basics. The goal should be to empower individuals with knowledge and skills. Without this foundation, there is a risk of perpetuating a belief that people do not need education, which can lead to unemployment and a cycle of poverty.
Another significant issue is access to schools. There is a lack of sufficient infrastructure and teachers to meet the growing demand for education. As I noted during my visit, the distribution of teachers is uneven. Most are concentrated in urban centres, while rural areas often face a shortage, leading to many schools being under-resourced or even abandoned.
I had an insightful conversation with the governor of Zamfara, who mentioned plans to recruit 2,000 teachers specifically for underserved areas. I inquired about the criteria for this recruitment, and he explained that they aim to hire teachers from local communities. While it may be challenging to find educators with high qualifications in these regions, hiring individuals familiar with the community can foster accountability and commitment to the students’ education.
It’s encouraging to see initiatives like this one aimed at improving educational access. The recruitment of 2,000 teachers is a significant step forward. While other states may also be increasing their teacher workforce, this effort stands out as a positive development in addressing educational gaps in rural areas. Let’s observe how these changes unfold!
English (US) ·