Nutrition experts emphasize that inadequate consumption of meat and fish, both rich sources of high-quality proteins, vital vitamins, and minerals, can result in hindered brain and physical development in children due to lack of protein.

They point out that animal proteins like meat offer a comprehensive array of essential amino acids crucial for children’s nutritional needs. Fish, on the other hand, provides healthy fats like docosahexaenoic acid, essential for brain development, nervous system function, and visual health in children.

The World Health Organization recommends animal products as the optimal choice for meeting the nutritional requirements of children aged six to 23 months.

Unfortunately, despite the nutrient richness of meat and fish, many children under the age of five are deprived of these high-quality proteins due to economic constraints, nutritionists ,revealed.

This lack of access to essential proteins increases the risk of protein deficiency among young children, leading to compromised brain development and stunted physical growth.

Charles Nkwoala, a community nutritionist and former National General Secretary of the Nutrition Society of Nigeria, emphasizes that protein-deficient children under five are vulnerable to weakened immunity, fatigue, and lack of focus.

Nkwoala, who also serves as a lecturer in the Department of Human Nutrition and Dietetics at Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, stresses that meat and fish play a critical role in providing the necessary proteins for optimal growth and development in children.

Abia State, mentioned, “In children under five, protein deficiency can lead to retarded growth, poor cognitive development, lowered immunity, fatigue and lack of concentration.

“These consequences may be irreversible and affect all aspects of the child’s development even in education attainment and productivity later in life.”

The nutritionist further stated, that it was important to know the causes of protein deficiency in children.

“The immediate cause of protein deficiency is majorly related to inadequate intake of protein-rich foods such as meat, fish, eggs, milk, legumes and also the presence of diseases.

“For us to appreciate the reason for the rise in protein deficiency in Nigeria, especially among children, we need to know the causes of protein deficiency. There are about three levels of causes – immediate cause, underlying cause, and basic cause”, he Noted.

According to the United Nations Children’s Fund’s 2019 report, “The State of the World’s Children,” a staggering 60% of children worldwide, aged between six months and two years, do not receive the necessary nutrients for optimal growth and development, hindering the potential of their bodies and minds.

“This puts them at risk of poor brain development, weak learning, low immunity, increased infections and, in many cases, death”, UNICEF added

Nkwoala attributed the direct cause of protein deficiency to household food insecurity, inadequate care, poor sanitation, and limited access to healthcare.

However, she identified the root causes as poverty, unemployment, and the lack of basic infrastructure, which ultimately lead to protein deficiency.

He added, “If you consider the fact that Nigeria is the poverty capital of the world and the predominant lack of basic amenities and poor health care system, it is, therefore, clear that protein deficiency will always be on the increase.

“ Bearing in mind that protein is a major component of almost all parts of the body – blood (haemoglobin), eye, muscle, hair, it then becomes obvious that its deficiency can lead to several health risks such as anaemia, retarded growth, eye problems, and even death.

“Children and women, especially pregnant and lactating women, are most affected by protein deficiency.”

Nigeria is facing a severe child malnutrition crisis, with UNICEF reporting that 12 million of the 35 million children under the age of five suffer from stunting due to malnutrition.

This puts Nigeria at the top of the list in Africa and second globally in terms of malnourished children.

Nkwoala emphasized that protein deficiency has far-reaching and devastating health consequences, making it a pressing concern that requires urgent attention.

He mentioned, “Children are affected because of their high protein requirement for growth and development. Pregnant women and lactating women also require protein for the proper growth of the fetus and milk production respectively.”

“These will provide opportunities for individuals and households to have unhindered access to available, affordable, safe, and nutritious foods.

“However, households and individuals need adequate nutrition education to know how to combine locally available foods to make nutritious and safe meals for their children and other vulnerable groups in the household”, he stated.

Uju Onuorah, a nutritionist, warned that inadequate nutrition during the first 1,000 days of a child’s life can have permanent and devastating effects on brain development. She emphasized that if children don’t receive proper nutrition, it can impact their academic performance and hinder their ability to succeed in school.

Onuorah said, “Nutrition in particular plays a foundational role in a child’s development and the ability to prosper.

“Research shows that 80 per cent of a child’s brain development occurs within the first 1,000 days of life, making those years important for lifelong health, learning and success.”