A South Africa-based Nigerian medical practitioner, Dr Ademola Tosin Ojo, has urged parents and caregivers to prioritise proper nutrition, breastfeeding, and immunisation for children to ensure healthy growth and development.
Dr. Ojo made the call during a health programme hosted by Dare Olusan on The African Portal Radio TV, an online media platform based in Pretoria, South Africa.
Speaking extensively on child health, nutrition, immunisation and growth, the medical doctor stressed that adequate nutrition is essential to a child’s brain development, physical growth, strong immunity, and overall well-being.
According to him, children require a balanced diet containing vegetables and fruits, whole grains and other staple foods, as well as protein-rich foods such as eggs, fish, beans, and meat, alongside appropriate healthy fats.
He explained that good nutrition provides children with the energy and essential nutrients needed to remain active, develop properly, and fight infections.
Dr. Ojo also highlighted the importance of breastfeeding, noting that breast milk provides newborns with essential nutrients and immune protection. He recommended exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of a baby’s life, in line with established child-health guidance.
He warned that inadequate nutrition could expose children to poor weight gain, low energy levels, frequent illnesses, and delayed growth and development.
The medical practitioner encouraged Nigerian parents not to assume that nutritious, protein-rich foods are necessarily expensive, stressing that several affordable local food options can provide children with the nutrients they need.
He further advised families to consider small-scale or backyard farming, where possible, to improve access to fresh vegetables and other nutritious foods.
Dr. Ojo also called on governments at all levels to give greater attention to agriculture and support local farmers as part of efforts to address food insecurity and reduce hunger in Nigeria.
He maintained that encouraging food production at both household and community levels would not only improve access to nutritious food but also contribute to the overall health and well-being of Nigerian children.
Packaged by Oludotun Ajibola
