First 1,000 Days: UNICEF Urges Massive Investment to Save Mothers, Children in Adamawa.

By Uzairu Dauda Bunga:

The Chief of Field Office, UNICEF Bauchi, Dr. Nuzhat Rafique, has described the first 1,000 days of a child’s life as a critical window that requires urgent and sustained investment to ensure child survival and long-term productivity.

Dr. Rafique made this known during a media dialogue on the First 1,000 Days of Life held in Adamawa State.

She noted that NDHS indicates Nigeria remains one of the highest contributors to maternal and under-five mortality globally, with the highest under-five morbidity rate in West Africa.

According to her, the 1,000-day period begins from conception through pregnancy, continues through the first year of life, and extends until a child’s second birthday.

Dr Rafique said, the care a mother receives from conception determines the survival and future of the child, stressing that inadequate care during pregnancy increases the risk of miscarriage, low birth weight, and other complications.

She described the level of malnutrition in North-East Nigeria as devastating and shocking.

Dr. Rafique emphasized that the safest way to protect both mother and child is for pregnant women to attend full antenatal care (ANC) and ensure delivery in a health facility under skilled supervision.

The Chief of Field Office UNICEF Bauchi, urged state and local government authorities to make health facilities infection-free to prevent diseases during childbirth.

She expressed concern that over 60 percent of births in Nigeria still occur at home, a factor she described as a major contributor to maternal and child mortality.

According to her, child survival after birth depends on exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, timely immunization against childhood killer diseases, and the introduction of safe and nutritious complementary feeding using locally available foods.

Dr Rafique also called on mothers to adopt proper sanitation and hygiene practices, including maintaining clean environments and ending open defecation, to prevent diarrhea and other infections.

She highlighted that the highest risk of death for a child occurs within the first 24 hours and the first month of life.

Dr. Rafique outlined seven key stages critical to child survival to include antenatal care, hospital delivery, exclusive breastfeeding, complementary feeding, immunization, sanitation, and access to quality education.

In his remarks the General Manager of Adamawa State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA), Mr. Esly Emmanuel, represented by Director of Quality Control Amin Williams, said collaboration with UNICEF has yielded significant results in the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) sector in the state.

He acknowledged the media’s role in sustaining advocacy around the first 1,000 days agenda.

In his presentation, Dr. Takwale Joseph Vawa described the first 1,000 days as a window of opportunity for physical growth and brain development.

He said it forms the foundation for lifelong health, learning, and productivity, warning that damage done during this period is often irreversible.

Dr Vawa revealed that 45 percent of under-five morbidity is linked to malnutrition, noting that proper nutrition strengthens immunity and reduces vulnerability to infections, noting that inadequate nutrient intake during pregnancy leads to low birth weight, growth failure, and increased health risks.

Dr. Vawa also identified harmful socio-cultural practices such as discarding colostrum, delayed initiation of breastfeeding, and preference for traditional remedies over medical care as factors undermining child survival.

He called for improved maternal nutrition, supplementation, stronger health systems, and sustained investments in nutrition.

On her part, the Director of Community Health Services in Adamawa State, Hajiya Rashida Tahir, disclosed that nine Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the state have poor maternal and child health indices.

She cited statistics indicating 1,627 perinatal deaths, 218 maternal deaths, and a neonatal mortality rate of 43 per 1,000 live births.

Hajiya Tahir attributed these challenges to shortages of skilled health personnel, training gaps among birth attendants, inadequate equipment, and insufficient funding.

However, she commended UNICEF’s support through the EU-SARAH project, which she said has helped reduce negative health indicators in the state.

Contributing, Adamawa State Nutrition Officer, Mr. Wulanga Alfred, announced increased government funding for child nutrition, revealing that the state allocated ₦100 million in 2023, ₦200 million in 2024, and ₦300 million in 2025 toward child nutrition programs.

Also speaking, UNICEF Bauchi Field Office WASH Officer, Namban Dawap, stressed that access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene services is essential for child survival within the first 1,000 days.

Dr. Rafique concluded by urging the Adamawa State Government to emulate Bauchi State in the fight against open defecation, noting that while Bauchi has achieved 10 Open Defecation Free (ODF) LGAs, only two LGAs in Adamawa have attained ODF status.

She reiterated that sustained investment in the first 1,000 days of life is not only critical for survival but also for building a healthier, more productive society.