MICS 2021 REPORT: UNICEF DECRIES LOW EXCLUSIVE BREASTFEEDING & VACCINATION RATES IN NIGERIA

REPORTER: EMEFIENA OKONKWO

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) wants Nigerians, especialy government and relevant Stakeholders, to embrace the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) 2021 Report when planning and implementing policies that relate to women and Children.

Health Specialist UNICEF, Rivers Field Office, Port Harcourt, Dr. Eghe Abe, gave the advice in Port Harcourt, during the Multi-Zonal Media Dialogue on Dissemination of the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) 2021 Report, organized by Broadcasting Corporation of Abia State (BCA) in collaboration with UNICEF.

Dr. Abe noted that the survey revealed that the percentage of nursing mothers practising exclusive breastfeeding and pregnant women that delivered at health facility were low at 34% and 49%, adding that these could be improved upon.

In other keynote presentations, the Communications Officer, UNICEF Enugu Field Office, Dr. Ijeoma Onuoha-Ogwe, and the Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist, UNICEF Enugu Field Office, Mrs. Maureen Zubie-Okolo, explained that UNICEF remained committed to improved data collection, evaluation and monitoring, hence the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) 2021 Report.

Dr. Onuoha-Ogwe and Mrs. Zubie-Okolo also noted that the National Immunization coverage, which was captured in the survey, indicated that only 36% of Children, age 12 to 23 months received all recommended vaccines in the country.

They encouraged governments to invest more in the healthcare and nutrition of children and women, while sensitization of women to the importance of child immunization should be sustained.

Earlier in an address, the Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists, Rivers State Council, Mr. Stanley Job, highlighted the importance of the MICS 2021 Report, pointing that through it and at glance, data on child nutrition, immunization, child mortality and social protection as well as women healthcare coverage were known.

Also highlighted in the Media dialogue was the need for journalists to report more on women and children related issues with the Resource persons, Dr. Christopher Ochonogor and Dr. Nwachukwu Faustinus Ginikanwa, urging journalists to disseminate the MICS 2021 Report.

The Workshop was well attended by media professionals in Enugu and Port Harcourt Field Offices, including Kogi and Benue States as well as the Officer in-charge of UNICEF, Port Harcourt Field Office, Dr Anslem Audu.

EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU