76% of Nigerian children suffer from iron deficiency -Official

Managing Director, Nestle Nigeria, Mr Dharnesh Gordhon, has said 76 per cent of children in Nigeria aged between six months and five years are suffering from iron deficiency

Gordhon, who was represented by Mrs Iquo Ukoh, Marketing Services Director of the company, gave the information at a Nestle Nutrition Seminar in Lagos, with theme, ‘Preventing Iron Deficiency in Nigeria’.

According to Gordhon, iron deficiency is the most common form of micronutrient deficiency in children and a significant cause of anaemia.

Gordhon said micronutrients, such as iron, vitamin A, iodine and zinc were essential for growth and development.

He said, “Iron deficiency has series of functional consequences such as reduced cognitive development as measured by intelligence quotient, reduced attention span and poor learning and impaired scholastic performance. Continue...

“Decreased exercise stamina, reduced muscular force and strength, as well as impaired body temperature are also common to the condition, whether or not it is associated with anaemia.

“Hence, iron deficiency disorders can take a devastating toll on fitness of both individuals and the communities of which they are part of.”

The managing director added that: “Iron deficiency is common to infants in the second semester of infancy.

“During adolescence, iron requirements are increased. In boys, this increase reflects not only the expanding blood volume, but also a rise in haemoglobin concentration that occurs with sexual maturation.

“In girls with marginal dietary iron intakes and increased menstrual blood losses, iron-deficiency anaemia may be a limiting factor for growth in adolescence.”

Gordhon urged governments, healthcare professionals, parents and other stakeholders to understand the issue of iron deficiency in Nigeria and collaborate to solve some public health challenges associated with it.

A professor of Paediatrics, Faculty of Clinical Services, College of Medicine of the University of Lagos, Prof Edamisan Temiye, said exclusive breast-feeding should be encouraged and maintained to prevent iron deficiency in infants.

According to him, through breast-feeding, about 50 per cent of iron in breast milk is absorbed.

He said infants and toddlers should get most of their iron requirements through naturally iron-rich foods rather than through iron supplementation.

Temiye named some of the foods as red meat, egg, sea food, poultry, legume, green leafy vegetables, fortified cereals and fruits.

Also, Dr Yeside Shogbamimu of the Department of Community Health and Primary Health, Lagos State University teaching Hospital, said Nigeria was among the 20 nations that contributed to over 80 per cent of child mortality in the world.

According to her, about 53 per cent of the causes of mortality is as a result of under-nutrition.

Shogbamimu said some strategies could be put in place to improve iron deficiency in the Nigerian child.