Nigeria has been ranked 174th out of the 180 countries that
were compared on indices of child health and overall well-being.
The report, released on Wednesday by a Commission of over 40
child and adolescent health experts from around the world, revealed a new global
index of 180 countries, comparing performance on child flourishing, including
measures of child survival and well-being, such as health, education, and
nutrition; sustainability, with a proxy for greenhouse gas emissions, and
equity, or income gaps.
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The Commission was convened by the World Health Organization, UNICEF and The Lancet, Punch reports.
In the report, Nigeria competed for the bottom place with
countries such as Afghanistan (171); Sierra Leone (172); South Sudan (173); and
Guinea (175).
Others are Mali (176); Niger (177); Somalia (178); Chad
(179); and Central African Republic (180).
The report noted that, despite dramatic improvements in
survival, nutrition, and education over recent decades, today’s children face
an uncertain future.
“Climate change, ecological degradation, migrating
populations, conflict, pervasive inequalities, and predatory commercial
practices threaten the health and future of children in every country,” the
report states.
It noted that, in 2015, the world’s countries agreed on the
Sustainable Development Goals, lamenting that nearly five years later, few
countries have recorded much progress towards achieving them.
“This Commission presents the case for placing children,
aged 0–18 years, at the centre of the SDGs: at the heart of the concept of
sustainability and our shared human endeavour.
“Governments must harness coalitions across sectors to
overcome ecological and commercial pressures to ensure children receive their
rights and entitlements now and a liveable planet in the years to come,” the
report admonished.
The report declared that no single country is adequately
protecting children’s health, their environment and their futures.
Titled, ‘A Future for the World’s Children?’ the report
finds that the health and future of every child and adolescent worldwide is
under immediate threat from ecological degradation, climate change and
exploitative marketing practises that push heavily processed fast food, sugary
drinks, alcohol and tobacco at children.
“Despite improvements in child and adolescent health over
the past 20 years, progress has stalled, and is set to reverse,” said former
Prime Minister of New Zealand and Co-Chair of the Commission, Helen Clark.
“It has been estimated that around 250 million children
under five years old in low- and middle-income countries are at risk of not
reaching their developmental potential, based on proxy measures of stunting and
poverty. But of even greater concern, every child worldwide now faces
existential threats from climate change and commercial pressures.
“Countries need to overhaul their approach to child and
adolescent health, to ensure that we not only look after our children today but
protect the world they will inherit in the future,” Clark added.
In response, Director-General of the World Health
Organisation, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said, “This report shows that the
world’s decision makers are, too often, failing today’s children and youth:
failing to protect their health, failing to protect their rights, and failing
to protect their planet.”
Continuing, he said, “This must be a wake-up call for
countries to invest in child health and development, ensure their voices are
heard, protect their rights, and build a future that is fit for children.”
Also reacting to the report, UNICEF Nigeria Representative,
Claes Johansson, said, “This demonstrates how far we still need to go in
Nigeria to ensure children can live healthy lives in an environment where they
can thrive.
“We know that investing in the future of our children,
giving them an education and making sure they are healthy and receive the right
nutrition, work to provide a better future for everyone.
“We all have a responsibility to do everything we can to
protect the health and future of every Nigerian child.”
Co-chair of the Commission, Minister Awa Coll-Seck from
Senegal, noted, “More than two billion people live in countries where
development is hampered by humanitarian crises, conflicts, and natural
disasters, problems increasingly linked with climate change.
“While some of the poorest countries are listed among those
with the lowest carbon dioxide emissions, many are exposed to the harshest
impacts of a rapidly changing climate.”
“Promoting better conditions today for children to survive
and thrive nationally does not have to come at the cost of eroding children’s
futures globally,” Coll-Seck added.