.……….urge journalists to enlighten public
By Bashir Hassan Abubakar
The new country representative of UNICEF Nigeria Ms. Cristian Munduate has urged Bauchi State Government to accelerate the domestication of child protection law and its implementation in the state.
Ms. Munduate made the call while interacting with Journalists at UNICEF Field office Bauchi, Nigeria during her familiarizing visit to the State on Wednesday 25th January, 2023.
She said that children protection law is all about guaranteeing the right of children to grow, learn, develop, to be protected and to reach their full potentials in life.
The new Country Representative then urged journalists to be advocates of the child protection law by enlightening citizens on its benefits through their various channels.
While reacting on the menace of severe acute malnutrition as it affects children, Ms. Munduate said that efforts should be geared towards adopting preventive measures to mitigate malnutrition in children.
“Severe Acute Malnutrition does a permanent damage in the life of the child even if it is cured. This could be seen in stunted growth in children which affects their intelligence coefficient in life.
“One of the cost effective ways of preventing malnutrition in children is the practice of placing the child on exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of birth”, said Ms. Cristian Munduate.
The Country Representative further said that UNICEF is exploring avenue on how to get the private sector key into the production of Ready to Use Therephautic Food (RUTF) that is being used to cure children with Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM).
On the persistent negative indices associated with basic education of children, Ms. Cristian Munduate said that UNICEF will support the Government at both national and subnational levels to identify the training needs of teachers with a view to enhancing their capacity to impact quality teaching to pupils.
While urging Journalists to be advocates of better life for children and women, the new country Director also called on Government at different levels to increase investment in maternal and child health, water, sanitation and hygiene, basic education among other critical needs of women and children.