Nigeria rates as the second highest burden of stunted children in the world

By Farida Umar Abdu

Nigeria has the second highest burden of stunted children in the world, with a national prevalence rate of 32 percent of children under five.

An estimated two million children in Nigeria suffer from severe acute malnutrition.

Kano State has the highest number of malnourished children in Nigeria, with over one million children stunted and over one hundred thousand children wasted.

Due to that, Civil Society-Scaling-up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN), trains journalists on how to increase nutrition reportage and visibility to mobilize stakeholders for action against malnutrition.

Speaking at a 3 day training, the executive secretary of the organization, Mr Sunday Okoronkwo disclosed that, partnership with the media is critical to winning the fight against malnutrition.

Mr Sunday Okoronkwo said media had played a vital role in the fight against malnutrition, adding that there is the need to buckle up in that direction.

On her part, Communication officer Civil Society-Scaling-up Nutrition in Nigeria, Mrs Lilian Okafor said the training was organized to Strengthening the capacity of journalist for improved Nutrition reportage and visibility.

Mrs Lilian Okafor said the participants of the training were drawn from Broadcast and Print media in Kano, Kaduna, Nassarawa, Niger, Lagos and Abuja.

She said one of the best way to quickly disseminate information, increase understanding of nutrition is to engage the media.

Also speaking, the facilitator of the training, Mr Akin Jimoh, called on the media to pay attention to data base journalism with a view to come out with proper solution.