Our Videos

July 21, 11

NEWS / International support needed to curb child malnutrition in Niger


21 July 2011 –
The Government of Niger needs international support to curb alarming levels of child malnutrition, as well as deal with its underlying causes, says the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

The agency said in a news release issued on Wednesday that more than 15 children in 100 suffer from acute malnutrition, as shown by the National Nutrition Survey that was released this month.

The prevalence of global acute malnutrition (GAM) among children under five years old in Niger is back to the same levels experienced in June 2009 – 12.3 per cent – registering a decrease of more than three points (16.7 per cent) from the previous survey conducted last November.

“The nutritional status nevertheless remains above the emergency threshold of 10 per cent for seven of the country’s eight regions,” UNICEF stated.

The survey found that children aged six to 23 months account for a large share of the nutritional burden with one in five children affected by GAM and 4.2 per cent of them by severe acute malnutrition (SAM), the most severe form of malnutrition.

UNICEF said that these figures have dropped comparing to June 2010 but remain well above those that prevailed in June 2009 before a serious food and nutrition crisis struck the nation.

The survey revealed “unacceptably high” rates of chronic malnutrition for all age groups which follow an upward trend having registered an increase by five points to 51 per cent in June 2011.

“The prevalence of this form of malnutrition, harmful to the psychological development of children, illustrates the cumulative effects of recurrent episodes of malnutrition in children and reveals the urgency to act upstream to address the disease by offering children a healthy diet soon after birth,” UNICEF stated.

Malnutrition has enormous consequences: morbidity and mortality increase, poor educational achievements and lower productivity, according to Dr. Maimouna Guéro, nutrition director at the Ministry of Public Health in Niger.

She advocates practices such as exclusive breastfeeding within the first hour of the child’s birth and up to six months, which UNICEF pointed out is a “free, cheap and effective” way to give children a good start in life.

Only 27 per cent of Niger’s mothers exclusively breastfeed their children up to six months, according to the latest child survival survey conducted in 2010.

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=39098&Cr=+Niger+&Cr1=

 




Testimonials

John Beacleay

Just wanted to say thanks again for all your help Anton. I mean it's really amazing to me that yo...
Read More »
Niranjan Sujay
I recently used LOGOS INTERNATIONAL for the translation of my bachelor’s certificate, and I couldn’t...
Read More »
Katia Nagata

As a foreigner, I needed a certified translation, so I called the DOE to give me a list of the ce...
Read More »
AnnaMaria Realbuto
Thank you for all your assistance and efficiency...
Read More »




FAQ

Do I have to file separate I-129F Petitions for each of them, so they can receive K-2 visas and come to US with fiance (fiancee)?
Read More »
WHAT ARE THE HOURS OF OPERATION FOR NOTARIAL SERVICES AT U.S. EMBASSIES AND CONSULATES?
Read More »
How Much Chilean Sea Bass Does the U.S. Import?
Read More »
Is it safe to travel to ... ?
Read More »






News

July 3, 25
TX woman arrested after convincing pastor to certify fake marriage certificate
Read More »
July 1, 25
South Carolina woman accused of altering sister’s death certificate to commit insurance fraud
Read More »
June 26, 25
Jefferson Davis Hospital birth certificate errors persist; causing headaches for many
Read More »
June 19, 25
Iowa man whose body was found after home explosion died of suicide – death certificate
Read More »