The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has harped on the importance of the first 1,000 days of life to a child, particularly the day of birth, as it is a critical period that determines whether the child will survive, thrive, and transform.
It explained that the day of birth is very important, as 30 percent of stillbirth occurs on the day of delivery, 50 per cent of maternal and newborn deaths occur during birth, 75 percent of all newborn deaths occur in the first week of life, while 40 per cent of under five years deaths occur in the first 28 days of life.
UNICEF, therefore, called on the federal, state, and local governments, including parents, to ensure that children received adequate care in terms of immunization, breastfeeding, nutritious foods, skilled birth attendants, environmental and personal hygiene, among others, in their first 1,000 days of life.
Speaking during a media dialogue in Gombe State, with special focus on the 1,000 days of children in Gombe, Adamawa, Taraba, Plateau, and Bauchi, Dr. Emedo Emmaual, Health Specialist UNICEF Bauchi Field Office, disclosed that it is during the first 1,000 days of life that the brain of the child is mostly formed – about 80 per cent of the brain formation. Hence, this goes a long way to determine their cognitive, affective and physical growth and development.
According to the 2021 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS), 50,850 children under the age of five die yearly in Bauchi State. It is followed by 19,821 deaths in Plateau; 18,543 deaths in Gombe; 12,353 deaths in Adamawa; and 11,991 deaths in Taraba State.
He urged the affected states to ramp-up immunization coverage, increase antenatal and postnatal care attendance, and ensure that more facilities have adequate skilled birth attendants.
He said, “The first 1,000 days is the period shown to have the greatest potential for positive impact on long-term health outcomes, for both mother and child. It is the window of greatest contact with the health system for women, mothers, newborns, and children.
“It is also the period of greatest health risk and vulnerability for adverse health for women, mothers, newborns, and children. It poses the greatest demand and challenge to the health system. The period is a critical determinant of whether the child is going to survive, thrive, and transform.
“There is a need for improved knowledge, visibility, advocacy and policy action on maximizing opportunities of the 1,000 days window. We need to strengthen health systems, program implementation, delivery and integration of health and social interventions.
“There is a need for partnership for greater media action, enlightenment, and education on 1,000 days. Also, we must strengthen accountability for health and social development programs – tracking progress, and impacts of media response.”