The Rivers State Government has established the Integrative Management of Acute Malnutrition (IMAM) centres to tackle malnutrition amongst children who are under-five years old in the state.
Speaking during the launch at the Kelsey Harrison Hospital, Emenike Mile 2 Diobu in Port Harcourt City Council, the state’s Commissioner of Health, Dr Adaeze Oreh, noted that study shows that one in nine children under five years old, in the state, has stunted growth.
Oreh said despite other reasons, the cause of stunted growth among young children is because of poor infant and early child feeding practices. She added that data reveals that as of 2021, just 26 per cent of children in the state were exclusively breastfed as recommended.
Oreh acknowledged that some healthcare providers have received training on how to detect cases of malnutrition in different local governments and to promptly administer the proper therapy. She said: “Reports have indicated that in our state, one out of every nine children who are under the age of five are stunted in their growth.
“This situation can be attributed to poor infants and young children among other problems. In addition, nutritional status assessment of under-five children in the past two rises of our maternal, neonatal and child health in 2022/2023 using mid-upper circumference identified several cases in our state with severe acute malnutrition.
“The objective of the training includes increased awareness of malnutrition by our health care providers across several local government areas.”The Commissioner said the state government is committed to having at least 60 per cent of children in health by 2025, adding that the opening of the IMAM centres will support the proper management and treatment of malnutrition.
“It is important to note that high maternal mortality, high incidence of anaemia and the deficiencies of essential micronutrients have been reported to have adverse effects on the survival and development of our children.
“It is important to note that the launch of this Integrated Management site will help to foster the appropriate management and treatment of malnutrition with a variety of other long-term interventions for malnutrition education, infant and young child feeding and even food security.
“As a government, we are committed to achieving at least 60 per cent of healthy children by the year 2025. We are intensifying efforts to ensure that health facilities provide an enabling environment,” she added.
Reacting, Director, Head of Department Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Ladi Ayebusi, represented, Beatrice Ali, commended the Rivers State Government for successfully establishing IMAM sites in the state.
Also, the wife of the Rivers State Governor, Valerie Fubara, launched the establishment of the IMAM sites and was conferred the state’s nutrition champion by the Commissioner of Health.
