Rev. Otu asserts flags off Optimized Maternal Newborn And Child Health Week in Cross River
Emmanuel Alfred
The First Lady of Cross River State and Founder of Humanity Without Borders Empowerment Initiative (HUWIB), Rev
(Mrs) Eyoanwan Bassey Otu has stressed her commitment towards improving the healthcare services available to children as she flagged off the first round of the “Optimized Maternal Newborn And Child Health Week” in Cross River State.
The event, which was held at the Calabar Municipality Headquarters Field, Calabar was done in collaboration with the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) focused on proffering cardinal nutrition strategies for the critical window of the first one thousand (1,000) days in a child’s life.
Rev Otu emphasised the importance of embracing the initiative said, “Research conducted by the National Demographic Health Survey (NDHS) revealed a prevalence of 23% stunting of children in Cross River State, indicating malnutrition in one out of every four children below the age of five (5) years. Also, women’s health indices showed intake of iron and folic acid among pregnant women as 25.9%. 5.3% of pregnant women had low body mass index with 25% of them (15-49years) having mild anaemia.”
“The above fact can be attributed to poor feeding practices among our infants, young children, adolescents and women among other causes.”
She added that as a nutrition champion in Cross River, she will encourage all families in the State to join hands with her to standardise feeding practices among the infant (Exclusive breast feeding and zero water), young children, adolescents and women, especially our pregnant women.
Also speaking at the event, the Chief of Field Officer, UNICEF Enugu, highlighted the grave consequences of poor breastfeeding practices being chronic malnutrition and death. According to her, women must ensure they breastfeed their babies less than an hour after birth, as the colostrum, which is the first milk produced, protects the child from unnecessary illnesses. She highlighted the need for women to care better for themselves by feeding better during pregnancy because a healthy mother would increase the chances of having a healthy baby.
Applauding the First Lady’s initiative, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Egbe Ayuk, affirmed that advocacy for better nutrition for the first 1,000 days of a child’s life will reduce Infant mortality rate and stunting of growth. He therefore urged mothers to ensure they implement all the nutrition strategies mentioned.
The Special Advicer to the Governor on Gender Mainstreaming, Dr Inyang Asibong, highlighted the efforts Rev. Otu is making to impact the health and overall well-being of Cross Riverians through her NGO, Humanity Without Borders Empowerment Initiative.
She added that the Initiative addresses six (6) thematic areas to include Health, Education, Agriculture, Social Justice, Environment, and Sports Development.
Highpoint of the event was a Town Hall Meeting with the community leaders, and the distribution of mother and child care kit to expectant mothers.
