The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Children

  • Children should not die of preventable deaths (Part 2)

    Last week, we examined the root causes of why our children die in their infancy. We also took a detailed look at what kills these children. Similarly, we referred to the fact that these deaths  in childhood are preventable. In this article, we will discuss the measures that parents can take to reduce the chances of children dying early on in their lives.

    • The starting point is to understand who you are. Know your limit and determine how many children you can look after considering your own circumstances. It is no use having many children without being able to look after them all. This process of determining your capability is called family planning. Visit your healthcare provider to further discuss your family needs. No one can force you into family planning but at the same time, there is no point in having children who may not be able to be useful to themselves and the society.
    • Before the parents, especially the mother, should get pregnant, she should ensure good nourishment for herself. The intending mother should also consider taking supporting vitamins in preparation for pregnancy.
    • Once you have any of these children or a child for that matter, ensure, there is enough nutritious food for each child and the parents to share. A newborn child requires breast milk preferably from the mother. Short of this, an artificial milk may be used.
    • Throughout the pregnancy, pregnant women should register with their preferred healthcare provider for antenatal care. This is a very important step to prevent deaths of mother or child as relating to pregnancy.
    • The expectant mother should get herself vaccinated against key infections such as tetanus to protect both mother and child.
    • When the child is born, the mother and child should be monitored regularly by doctors and nurses: they, the clinicians will attend to any healthcare issue that may arise.
    • Before being pregnant, during pregnancy and after, personal hygiene of the parents, the children of the family and the environment should be clean and tidy.
    • Any illness should be brought to the attention of the healthcare providers as soon as possible. Parents should not underrate the importance of regular health checks even where there is no identifiable illness.

    These are few but not all the steps that may be taken to prevent the death of the newborn and other growing children in our family.

    Children are adults in the making. There are some protections that children who are also defendless should have. Parents should seriously consider removing hazards at home and in any place where young people may play and roam. Electrical sockets should be plucked so that children are not able to insert metals into electrical outlets. Children should not go near hot water, hot iron or into the kitchen on their own without the guidance and security of adults. Accidents may happen that may kill or harm the child if not well protected. Children are curious beings and they dream wild too. Young people are not often conscious of risks. Thus, they may want to jump out of a window in their innocent ways. Parents and guardians should consider window guards to prevent accidents. In a similar manner, car seats for children are good steps that may prevent injuries during road traffic accidents. Still on roads, let the children use helmets even for bicycle and motorcycle rides.

    Abuse of children is not rare in our country. Abuse includes economic, physical, mental and sexual abuses. Abuse diminish the value of children. Abuse could also stunt the growth of children. Parents will need to be very vigilant against all the forms of abuses that I have mentioned above.

    In sum, the well-being or death of children depends on the environment of their development. The wellbeing of the mother or child starts even before the birth of the child as we have seen and continues into the child’s adulthood. Prevention is better than cure. Vaccination against diseases, early detection and treatment of illness, prevention against accidents and injuries along with sound nutrition with protection against child abuses will ensure our children live safely and grow in a healthy manner.

  • Children should not die of preventable deaths (Part 2)

    Last week, we examined the root causes of why our children die in their infancy. We also took a detailed look at what kills these children. Similarly, we referred to the fact that these deaths  in childhood are preventable. In this article, we will discuss the measures that parents can take to reduce the chances of children dying early on in their lives.

    • The starting point is to understand who you are. Know your limit and determine how many children you can look after considering your own circumstances. It is no use having many children without being able to look after them all. This process of determining your capability is called family planning. Visit your healthcare provider to further discuss your family needs. No one can force you into family planning but at the same time, there is no point in having children who may not be able to be useful to themselves and the society.
    • Before the parents, especially the mother, should get pregnant, she should ensure good nourishment for herself. The intending mother should also consider taking supporting vitamins in preparation for pregnancy.
    • Once you have any of these children or a child for that matter, ensure, there is enough nutritious food for each child and the parents to share. A newborn child requires breast milk preferably from the mother. Short of this, an artificial milk may be used.
    • Throughout the pregnancy, pregnant women should register with their preferred healthcare provider for antenatal care. This is a very important step to prevent deaths of mother or child as relating to pregnancy.
    • The expectant mother should get herself vaccinated against key infections such as tetanus to protect both mother and child.
    • When the child is born, the mother and child should be monitored regularly by doctors and nurses: they, the clinicians will attend to any healthcare issue that may arise.
    • Before being pregnant, during pregnancy and after, personal hygiene of the parents, the children of the family and the environment should be clean and tidy.
    • Any illness should be brought to the attention of the healthcare providers as soon as possible. Parents should not underrate the importance of regular health checks even where there is no identifiable illness.

    These are few but not all the steps that may be taken to prevent the death of the newborn and other growing children in our family.

    Children are adults in the making. There are some protections that children who are also defendless should have. Parents should seriously consider removing hazards at home and in any place where young people may play and roam. Electrical sockets should be plucked so that children are not able to insert metals into electrical outlets. Children should not go near hot water, hot iron or into the kitchen on their own without the guidance and security of adults. Accidents may happen that may kill or harm the child if not well protected. Children are curious beings and they dream wild too. Young people are not often conscious of risks. Thus, they may want to jump out of a window in their innocent ways. Parents and guardians should consider window guards to prevent accidents. In a similar manner, car seats for children are good steps that may prevent injuries during road traffic accidents. Still on roads, let the children use helmets even for bicycle and motorcycle rides.

    Abuse of children is not rare in our country. Abuse includes economic, physical, mental and sexual abuses. Abuse diminish the value of children. Abuse could also stunt the growth of children. Parents will need to be very vigilant against all the forms of abuses that I have mentioned above.

    In sum, the well-being or death of children depends on the environment of their development. The wellbeing of the mother or child starts even before the birth of the child as we have seen and continues into the child’s adulthood. Prevention is better than cure. Vaccination against diseases, early detection and treatment of illness, prevention against accidents and injuries along with sound nutrition with protection against child abuses will ensure our children live safely and grow in a healthy manner.

  • Man kills four children, hangs self

    A yet-to-be-identified man, who hails from Ogoja in Cross River State on Tuesday at Alesa, near Port Harcourt, in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State, killed his four children after chasing his wife away, set his house ablaze and hanged himself.

    The fleeing wife raised the alarm that her husband wanted to kill her and their children, but before neighbours could move to the two-room apartment, the deed had already been done.

    The four sleeping children were strangled to death, giving them no chance of escaping to safety.

    Rivers police Spokesman, Nnamdi Omoni, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), confirmed the sad incident through the telephone.

  • Children should not die of preventable deaths (Part 1)

    In the last couple of weeks, we discussed, the unfortunate but  largely  preventable  pregnancy –related deaths of women.  We also  saw in those  articles, the unforgivable numbers of such deaths in our country. We discussed also, the preventive measures that could be applied to thwart the deaths of women at childbirth.

    In today’s article, we will take a closer look at what kills our infants and children under five years old. At the conclusion of these discussions on children, we will consider preventive recommendations too.

    Let us begin the difficult task of presenting to you, the major killers of our children who are under five years old.

    About 5.3 million children are born yearly in Nigeria: that is about 11,000 every day. One million of these children will die before the age of five years. Thus, Nigeria is a dangerous place to be born and or to be a child. According to Dr. Taiwo Ajayi, paediatrician, who had studied this subject, Nigeria’s newborn death rate (neonatal mortality) – 528 per day – is one of the highest in the world. More than a quarter of the estimated 1 million children who die under the age of five years annually in Nigeria die during the first 28 days of life (neonatal period). Sadly, about nine out of 10 of newborn deaths are preventable. However and alas, we fail our children and allow them to die prematurely.

    Remember though, that in every 10 minutes, one woman dies because of pregnancy or childbirth in Nigeria, giving about 53,000 per year.  This means about 814 women die in every 100,000 live births as at 2015 when the latest figure was available.

    As a matter of fact, the North East Zone of Nigeria, has the highest maternal mortality rate of 549/100,000 live births, compared to 165/100,000 live births in the South West Zone —an almost 10-fold difference. The highest death rate of infants within the first 28 days (neonatal mortality) of life is in the North East and North West regions of the country. The highest death rate of under five children (Under 5 Mortality Rate) is in the North East and North West regions of the country. Thus, specifically, for every 1000 children under five years old, the following number of children will die per year per 1000 children: North West zone 269 children; North East zone 260 children; South West zone 176 children; South East zone 103 children. This is a very pathetic picture indeed.

    Now, the question is: what kills our children?

    Amongst the commonest causes why our children die in the first four weeks of their lives are when such a child is born underweight. Being born underweight may be due to several diseases such as infection, poor nutrition of the baby and anaemia of the mother. A child born before due date: and who falls under the classification of prematurity may die soon after birth. When the labour is prolonged and difficult, such a child may die soon too. This is even more likely if the newborn sustains injury at birth. Infection is bad for everyone. It is bad for the newborn too. A child who came to this world already deformed is at risk of death at early stage of life (Congenital anomalies). If the child suffers from breathing problems, diarrrhoea or the cord is impaired, the child may die soon after birth

    For children who are under one year old but have escaped death in the first four weeks of life, such children may give up the ghost from second month to the 12th month because of some common but preventable illnesses. Diarrheal disease is among the top causes of such death. This is followed by conditions that restrict the breathing of the child. Infections of any source including malaria may kill the child. Poor nutrition (malnutrition) and congenital anomalies are other causes. Young children are naïve and are prone to accidents such as falls, use of dangerous instruments, swallowing of foreign objects and chocking and accidental poisoning. All of these stands in the way of survival of our children and most are preventable.

    We will look at the preventive measures next week.

  • Why children are now leaders of today, not tomorrow

    In the spirit of the international children day, an event that is celebrated every 20th of November, it is important to note that children are no longer leaders of tomorrow, but leaders of today

    With the 2018 theme “Children are taking over and turning the world blue” , the United Nations encourages that children on this day “take over” key roles in media, politics, business, sport and entertainment to voice their support for millions of their peers who are unschooled, unprotected and uprooted.

    The Children of today look forward to a great and awesome future that they have not gotten.  Despite their hard work to achieve greatness, the society is left with a generation that has little or nothing to show for their hard work

    All that occurs today are excuses and complains about the government, physical barriers, financial problems and societal limitations.

    It is important as leaders and parents to help bring out the giant in children through education, training, giving them responsibilities and others. Let there be no more excuses and regrets because all opportunities for a better life is open.

    As the cases of violence against children is becoming  rampant in the society, with unending defilement and brutal murder of children, our hearts bleed for victims as the society needs to take a stand to fight for the children.

    Silence will make no difference and indifference itself will make us eternal slaves to the unjust.

     

    Olusegun Esther is a student of Kwara State Polytechnic.

  • World Children’s Day: Akeredolu seeks priority attention for children

    Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State says priority attention should be given to children in view of their importance to the nation and the future of the society.

    Akeredolu made the assertion in Akure on Tuesday when the Children Management Committee of the Ondo State Radiovision Corporation (OSRC) and Orange FM paid a courtesy visit to his office.

    The visit was part of activities marking the 2018 World Children’s Day.

    The World Children’s Day is a day chosen by United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) to celebrate children worldwide.

    The governor said: “You are the future of the nation and we are prepared to work and interact with you as we go along.

    “This government will continue to do all it can to support all your requests.’’

    He advised parents to talk to their children and not to only talk about them.

    Read Also: International Children’s Day: 10m Nigerian children out of school – UNICEF

    Akereolu said that today’s children had the opportunity and access to better innovations, particularly computers, unlike in the past which was full of analogue lifestyle.

    The governor urged children to embrace agriculture as well as hygienic lifestyles.

    He also encouraged children to champion the fight against open defecation as Nigeria emerged second on the global list of countries with open defecation.

    According to him, the state government is committed to providing a conducive environment for learning.

    “I enjoin you to get involved in extra-curricular activities outside reading and the classroom.

    “Everything is not about academics or about reading; we have more to learn than just reading.

    “Your curriculum should not just limit you to books. There are a lot of activities like sports that make you a better person.

    “Don’t just go to school and come out. Let the school goes through you, ‘’ the governor said.

    Earlier, Miss Nifemi Obalokun, the One-Day Chairman, Management Committee of OSRC and Orange 94.5 FM, commended the governor for inspiring and supporting the initiative of the OSRC & Orange 94.5 FM and UNICEF.

    Obalokun, also a student of St. Louis Girls Grammar School, Akure, said the day was set aside by the UN to review its attention to and relationship with children.

    She lauded he governor for his infrastructure interventions, construction of educational facilities, expansion of health programmes, workers’ friendly policy, job creation and commitment to the society’s progress.

    Obalokun said it was sad that the world, particularly Africa, might suffer a gloomy future due to the dangers to which children were exposed to.

    She called for protection, education, encouragement and planning for children.

    NAN

  • Tips for children this hot season

    THERE is an outbreak of some viral infections like conjunctivitis (apolo), measles, among others. The weather is changing and we are gradually approaching dry season hence the viral infections.

    Kindly improve your ward(s) immunity by trying out the following and more:

    Make them wash their hands regularly, especially when they return from school; Increase your child’s water intake (a minimum of 2 litres daily); De-worm if you have not done so already; Reduce the intake of junk food and carbonated drinks especially now; Increase the intake of fruits, greens and vegetables; Make them eat appropriately and moderately; Dress them to suit the weather; Visit the hospital if and when the need arise. Finally, please do not send a sick child to school.

  • Feed the children

    FOR a nation that prides itself on being the Giant of Africa, Nigeria far too often reveals that it is a dwarf. The latest manifestation of this paradox is showing in the incredibly high rates of malnourished children located within its borders.

    The numbers are staggering. The prevalence of stunting among Nigerian children in 2003 was 42 per cent, while the prevalence of wasting was 11 per cent. In 2016, stunting was 44 per cent, while wasting remained at 11 per cent. In 2017, stunting was 43.6 per cent and wasting was 10.8 per cent. In the 2016/2017 survey, Lagos topped the wasting league with 11 per cent, while Kano came tops in stunting with 58 per cent.

    Some six million children in the country suffer from stunting; at 37 per cent of the total, this far exceeds Rwanda’s 20 per cent; 29 per cent of the country’s children are underweight, compared to Rwanda’s 2.5 per cent, and the global average of 15 per cent.

    Wasting results from acute malnutrition, while stunting is the consequence of chronic malnutrition. The World Health Organization (WHO) regards any prevalence of wasting above 10 per cent and stunting in excess of 40 per cent as critical. In 2013, Nigeria ranked third in terms of global child malnutrition.

    Malnutrition essentially imposes physical and mental limitations on growing children, and thereby negatively affects their capacity to become effective contributors to national development. Nigeria finds itself in this utterly unacceptable situation due to a toxic mix of neglect, institutional failure, and public indifference.

    The country’s low exclusive breastfeeding rates deprive babies of the vital micronutrients they require in the first few months of life. In the 2016/2017 survey period, it was 17 per cent, in comparison with that of neighbouring Ghana, where it was 52 per cent. To worsen matters, half of Nigeria’s women of reproductive age were anaemic as at July 2016.

    The Boko Haram insurgency, herdsmen-farmers’ clashes and other intercommunal conflicts have resulted in over three million Nigerians without access to adequate food, water and health services, and urgently requiring humanitarian assistance. The displacement caused by such widespread unrest has hampered access to farms, thereby impinging negatively on the ability of many communities to feed themselves.

    The failure of successive governments to treat this crisis with the urgency that it so desperately deserves has served to further worsen the problem. This must change. An emergency must be declared in the child nutrition sub-sector and immediate steps taken to ensure that all children are guaranteed access to nutritious food in infancy, and in primary and secondary schools.

    Governments and other stakeholders must come together to clearly outline roles and responsibilities to be taken up in speedily resolving this crisis. Federal and state governments must give agricultural investment special priority, with definitive timelines and deadlines for increased crop production, better storage and improved marketing. The school feeding programme must be ramped up significantly with the aim of achieving increased nutritional value and better coverage rates.

    Non-governmental and multilateral agencies like the WHO, the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) and their local counterparts must be brought more completely into the resolution of the malnutrition crisis, and tools like the National Demographic Health Survey (NDHS) and Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) should be applied with greater comprehensiveness and frequency.

    The country’s media must ensure that the urgency of the situation is drummed into every citizen. It is incredible that Nigerians can engage in meaningless frivolities in the face of a crisis that claims the lives of up to 500,000 children every year, which is far worse than can be found in nations that are actually at war.

    It is time that Nigeria began to live up to its obligations to the most vulnerable of its citizens. A nation that cannot ensure that its own children are healthy and properly fed is unworthy of its sovereignty.

  • Children of slain Kaduna cleric get scholarship

    •Wife still in kidnappers’ den

    Senator Shehu Sani (Kaduna Central) has promised to sponsor the education of the four children of the late Rev. Hosea Akuchi.

    Akuchi, pastor of Nasara Baptist Church, was murdered last Monday in Kaduna.

    The gunmen kidnapped his wife; she has not been released.

    A family source said poor network had made it difficult to hear from the gunmen, who were demanding N5 million ransom.

    Sani, who visited the deceased’s home in Kasuwan Magani, Kujama, to condole with the children and the aged mother, promised to support the children’s education.

    His words:  “Kaduna has become the den of killer men. Unfortunately, it happened to a cleric, who preached peace. The government should prosecute the perpetrators because its most important duty is the protection of life and property.

    “I’ll take the matter to Abuja and see how the family can be assisted because it’s the responsibility of leaders to protect life  and property.

    “Though you can kill someone, you cannot kill his religion. I am here as senator representing the area, to sympathise with the family and the community. What matters most is not the dead, but the good name because, there is a time to born and a time to die and return to God.

    “I will sit with the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the bereaved family to see how we can support the children’s education.”

    The deceased’s first daughter and CAN officials thanked Sani for sympathising with the family.”

     

  • Women, children to get lowest basic health, nutrition services

    The Federal Government is committed to ensuring that women, children and adolescents access basic health and nutrition services at lowest cost, Health Minister Prof. Isaac Adewole has said.

    The minister, in a statement by Mrs. Boade Akinola, director, Media and Publicity, made the commitment at a forum by the  Nigerian government, the Global Financing Facility (GFF) and partners, to co- finance efforts towards improving the health and nutrition of the poorest women, children and adolescent.

    “The GFF has created a new sense of awareness that we must put our money on the table for these essential investments in our people and use them in even smarter ways and that is something that has not been done before,” he said.

    The minister said Nigeria, being the most populous country in Africa, was facing challenges.

    He said the country was the single largest contributor to the global infant and child mortality rates annually, something he noted was unacceptable.

    Adewole said it was regrettable that those challenges had outpaced the government spending on health and nutrition, coupled with its spending in recent years being unable to reach those who needed them most and doing little to reduce high and impoverishing out -of-pocket spending on health by poor Nigerians.

    He said the grant from the GFF would co-finance early implementation of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF), with funds mobilised from the government and other contributors, starting in three states: Abia, Niger and Osun.

    Following the start-up phase, the minister revealed that the government would provide most of the financing for the scale-up to the remaining 33 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

    The Director of the GFF, Mariam Claeson, said Nigeria’s commitment to sustainably financing health and nutrition was a beacon for other countries as they worked with the GFF to make sure the investment they made lasted for years.

    “The government will make an enormous difference in the lives of millions of Nigerians by making a lasting investment in the health and nutrition of women, children and adolescents, the foundation of the society and the economy.”