To treat under-five malnourished children in the state, the Rivers State Government built Integrative Management of Acute Malnutrition, or IMAM, clinics.
The state’s commissioner of health, doctor Adaeze Oreh, revealed during the unveiling on Friday at the Kelsey Harrison Hospital, Emenike Mile 2 Diobu Port Harcourt, that one in nine children in the state under the age of five suffer from stunted growth.
She cited inadequate newborn and early childhood feeding practices as one of the causes, noting that data shows that as of 2021, just 26% of children in the state were exclusively breastfed as recommended.
According to Dr. Oreh, certain medical professionals have received training on identifying malnutrition cases in various local administrations and acting quickly to deliver the appropriate.
“In our state, one out of every nine children under the age of five has stunted growth,” the Commissioner of Health stated in her welcome speech.
Among other things, inadequate nutrition and the eating habits of young children are to blame for this state of affairs.
Furthermore, by utilizing mid-upper arm circumference to assess the nutritional status of children under five during our maternity, neonatal, and child health week in 2022 and 2023, we were able to identify many children in our state who were suffering from severe acute malnutrition.
“More awareness on case identification of malnutrition by our health care providers across several local government areas is one of the objectives of the training that we recently concluded.”
The Commissioner added that the inauguration of the IMAM facilities will promote the appropriate management and treatment of malnutrition and that the state government is dedicated to have at least 60% of children in health by 2025.
It is noteworthy that there is evidence linking elevated rates of anemia, high maternal mortality, and insufficient intake of critical micronutrients to detrimental consequences for our offspring’s survival and growth.
It is noteworthy that the establishment of these integrated management sites would support a range of other long-term interventions, including nutrition education, feeding infants and young children, and even food security, in order to promote the proper management and treatment of malnutrition.
“By 2025, we as a government aim to have at least 60% of youngsters in good health.
“We’re working harder to make sure that our medical facilities offer a supportive environment,” she continued.
Beatrice Ali complimented the Rivers State Government for successfully establishing IMAM sites in the state. She addressed on behalf of Ladi Ayebusi, Director, Head of Department, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
“I would want to express my sincere gratitude to the Rivers State Government for their audacious decision to see to it that IMAM locations are constructed throughout the state.