World Population Day: Nigeria’s Increasing Population May Worsen Child Malnutrition
A Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the College of Medicine, Lagos State University, Ikeja, Oluwarotimi Akinola, has warned that if Nigeria’s population growth remains unchecked, it will worsen child malnutrition and increase the already worrisome number of out-of-school children.
He said Nigeria’s rate of population growth calls for concern and brought attention to the dangers such poses to the country, especially in the face of prevailing socioeconomic downturns.
The maternal health expert spoke in commemoration of the WPD, stressed that overpopulation exerts a lot of burden on existing facilities.
World Population Day is an annual event observed on July 11 to raise awareness of global population issues.
It was established by the Governing Council of the United Nations Development Programme in 1989.
The theme for the 2023 commemoration is, ‘Unleashing the Power of Gender Equality, Uplifting the Voices of Women and Girls to Unlock Our World’s Infinite Possibilities’.
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The World Population Dashboard showcases global population data, including fertility rate, gender parity in school enrollment, information on sexual and reproductive health, among others
Prof. Akinola, who is a former President, Society of Gynaecology and Obstetrics of Nigeria, said the time had come for couples to stop giving birth to many children with the mindset that only a few of them would survive.
He noted that the country’s current rate of population growth calls for concern, stressing that more people will be struggling to survive.
“Of course, there will be struggling and striving for the limited facilities that are available. What I mean is, the more children that are being born, they will have to be sent to schools. We also have a very youthful population with quite a number of them not being productive yet. So, there is going to be a lot of burden on existing facilities,” he added.
The former SOGON boss said the government must put measures in place to control the country’s population before it is too late.
According to him, the population of Nigeria can be controlled through the use of family planning methods, adding that there is no alternative to family planning.
Prof. Akinola added, “It is very important we put measures in place to control our population so that demand does not exceed supply.”
SOURCE: HealthWise
