Over 315,000 Nigerian children suffer diarrhoea yearly

The General Manager Reckitt Benckiser West Africa, Mr. Rahal Murgai has said that about 315,000 Nigerian children under the age of five suffer from diarrhoea.

Murgai noted that studies of childhood diseases in various states in the country showed that Lagos and Oyo states had the highest number of children suffering from the disease.

He spoke at a charity ball organised by R&B in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health, Abuja and a non- governmental organisation, Save The Children in Lagos on Sunday.

Murgai stated that stakeholders had also inaugurated a “Save the Children Initiative” to check diahrroea in affected states using Shomolu Local government area of Lagos as a pilot study.

“Studies have showed that one in eight children born in Nigeria do not live to see their fifth birthday.Oyo State with a 9.2 per cent prevalence and Lagos with 7.5 per cent have the highest cases.

“This translates into 315.000 Nigerian children suffering from diarrhoea annually.To change this, the Stop Diarrhoea programme is being piloted in Shomolu as the starting point for the roll out across other states of the federation.”

He added that the programme would be implementing the World Health Organisation and United Nations Children Education Fund seven -point guideline towards the comprehensive control of diahrroea in the country.

Murgai added, “This is an evidence- based research programme and we will be bring our expertise in this area to bear to help save thousands of young lives every year.”

According to the Marketing manager, RB West Africa, Mr. Oguzhan Silivrili, profits from the sale of two innovative products from the organisation will be invested into the implementation of the programme.

He urged other corporate bodies to partner with the Federal Government on children’s health initiatives.

PUNCH.