The United Nations Children’s Fund has said the first 1,000 days of a child’s life is critical to physical development and brain growth

The Nutrition Officer, UNICEF Field Office Kano, Abigail Nyam, stated this in Zaria, on Thursday, during a media dialogue on children’s advocacy priorities.

The dialogue was for news and programmes managers of radio and television stations in Kano, Jigawa and Katsina states.

Ms Nyam said that a woman’s nutrition during pregnancy, breastfeeding as well as baby’s nurturing care in the first two years was extremely important for a healthy future.

She further said that maternal and child health could determine the child’s ability to grow and poor nutrition in the first 1,000 days cause irreversible damage to a child’s growing brain and body.

Ms Nyam stressed that the period of rapid brain growth and maturation is 80 per cent by two years and failure of growth during this period is associated with long term consequences which includes schooling, productivity and income.

She said, “In adult life they are at greater risk of the non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, and osteoporosis etc, resulting in lifelong medical expenses. The first 1,000 days are a time of tremendous potential and enormous vulnerability. How well or how poorly mothers and children are nourished and cared for doing this has a profound impact on a child’s life. According to UNICEF’s State of the World Children 2010 Report, undernutrition contributes to more than one third of the deaths.

“WHO’s recommendations of optimal infant feeding include, beginning breastfeeding within an hour of birth and exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, followed by timely and appropriate complementary feeding after six months along with continued breastfeeding for two years or beyond.’’

Ms Nyam explained that introduction of multiple micronutrient supplements for pregnant women had reduced maternal and infant mortality in Nigeria.

She described MMS as, “The most essential and common solution to anaemic pregnant women globally. MMS is a once in a day pill of critical micronutrients, containing between 13-15 essential vitamins and minerals for pregnant and nursing women and meets micronutrients requirements that poor diets cannot meet. MMS is safe, affordable and cost effective as one of the interventions to improve maternal nutrition as it’s more effective than iron folic acid.’’

Earlier, Communication Officer, UNICEF Field Office, Kano, Samuel Kaalu, said the objective of the media dialogue was to engage journalists in Kano, Jigawa and Katsina states on children’s advocacy priorities.

He added that the media dialogue was also aimed to create awareness for the media on the importance of the first 1,000 days to a child’s survival and other UNICEF activities.

(NAN)