Worried by the effects of malnutrition in children, Rivers State Chapter of Nigeria Association Of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), has promised to partner with Civil Society Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS- SUNN) in maternal and child nutrition advocacy.
The Chair person of Rivers NAWOJ, Mrs Lilian Okonkwo Ogabu, who made the promise when members of CS-SUNN paid an advocacy visit to her office in Port-Harcourt, disclosed that NAWOJ is an association of women journalists which responsibilities are to promote, protect and advance the issues of women.
She acknowledged that the issue of nutrition, though very important to humanity, is silent as it is hardly talked about and stressed the need to create awareness as well as call for legislations that will back investments on nutrition.
Earlier, the State Co- ordinator of CS – SUNN, Mr Buduzhi Oguzor, said that the group was in NAWOJ office to seek collaboration in raising awareness, building capacity and stimulating communities in the State to scale up nutrition.
He disclosed the magnitude of the problem of malnutrition, adding that it is a condition that occurs when people consistently do not consume the right amounts and types of food and essential nutrients.
Chronicling the effects of malnourishment on children, he noted in dismay that malnourished children have increased risk of disability, premature death and are highly predisposed to infectious diseases.
He further called for policy implementation through the development of low cost, nutritious complimentary biofortified foods and home fortification of staple foods.
