President Goodluck Jonathan has reiterated his administration’s resolve to implement policies and programmes that would enable Nigerian youths to maximise their creative and productive potential. 

This is even as he lamented that over 30 per cent of death occurring among children in Nigeria is caused by malnutrition. 

Jonathan, who disclosed this recently  in Abuja at the 2010 Children’s Day celebration however attributed problem to high poverty level in the country, especially amongst women and children.

 Jonathan, who was represented by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Senator Bala Mohammed said various steps taken by the present administration will assist in tackling the issue and  reduce the number of death and as well as  achieving the Millennium Development Goals, (MGDs). 

The President said in demonstrating the federal government’s resolve to guaranteeing the rights to good health and adequate nutrition, it has acceded to various international and regional conventions and protocols. 

While outlining steps taken so far to reduce death among women and Children, Jonathan said the Federal Ministry of Health has initiated the integrated maternal, newborn and child health strategy with the aim of accelerating the reduction of maternal mortality 

“This strategy is in realization of the fact that the health and well being of the mother is inextricably linked to the health and survival of the child” he said. 

Minister of Women Affairs, Iyom Josephine Anenih while speaking on the theme of the 2010 celebration titled “Partnering for Improving Nutrition for Mother and Child” said women should endeavour to do exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, so as to avoid all forms of disease that may want to attack the baby after birth 

She said exclusive breastfeeding has benefits of improving the mental, physical and psychological growths and well-being of the child. 

Anenih said the mother should also eat good food during pregnancy, so as to be healthy since it is only a healthy mother that can breast feed her child 

She said unsafe water, poor hygiene and inadequate sanitation with incidence of diarrheoa are major developmental challenges that the government has to surmount 

She however called on development partners to assist in developing the Nigerian children, who are the leaders of tomorrow.