Enugu and Benue States are among the beneficiaries of a United States Government-funded nutrition intervention programme being implemented by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to tackle the growing challenge of malnutrition among women and children in Nigeria.
The intervention, which is focused on preventing malnutrition during the first 1,000 days of life, was unveiled during a two-day Joint Inception and Planning Meeting held in Anambra State. The programme is being organised by UNICEF in collaboration with the governments of Enugu and Benue States with funding support from the United States Government.
Speaking during the meeting, UNICEF Nutrition Specialist, Mrs Ngozi Onuora, said the initiative was designed to improve nutrition outcomes among pregnant women, lactating mothers, and children between zero and 23 months old, who are considered the most vulnerable population in nutrition-related interventions.
According to her, the first 1,000 days of life, beginning from conception to a child’s second birthday, remain one of the most critical periods for human development.
She explained that proper nutrition within this period plays a major role in a child’s brain development, physical growth, learning ability, immunity, and long-term health outcomes.
“The intervention will focus on scaling up high-impact nutrition interventions, particularly preventive measures against malnutrition. It will also promote improved breastfeeding practices, better complementary feeding, and enhanced nutrition education for mothers,” Onuora said.
She added that the programme is a one-year intervention covering seven states including Enugu, Benue, Bauchi, Kano, Niger, Oyo, Jigawa, as well as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
Also speaking at the event, Nutrition Expert, Mrs Ada Ezeogu, stressed that poor nutrition during the first 1,000 days of life could lead to irreversible physical and cognitive damage in children.
She noted that beyond health concerns, malnutrition also affects educational performance, productivity, and future earning potential.
“Optimal nutrition during the first 1,000 days can help break the cycle of malnutrition and improve both individual wellbeing and national development outcomes,” Ezeogu said.
Benue State Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr Paul Ogwuche, described the rising rate of malnutrition as worrying, while reaffirming the state government’s commitment to implementing strategies that would improve the nutritional wellbeing of women and children across the state.
He commended UNICEF and the United States Government for supporting the intervention and expressed confidence that the programme would help strengthen ongoing efforts to reduce malnutrition in Benue.
On her part, the Executive Secretary of the Enugu State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Ifeyinwa Ani-Osheku, said Enugu State had already made progress in reducing malnutrition, particularly among children.
She expressed optimism that the new grant would further improve nutrition indicators and support the state’s broader healthcare goals.
Earlier, UNICEF Field Office Chief in Enugu, Mrs Juliet Chiluwe, praised both state governments for their commitment to improving child and maternal nutrition.
According to her, the planning meeting was necessary to align priorities, define responsibilities, and ensure evidence-based implementation of the intervention.
She also stressed the importance of collaboration across sectors such as health, agriculture, education, sanitation, and social protection in achieving sustainable nutrition outcomes.
“UNICEF remains committed to supporting both states to achieve lasting results,” Chiluwe said.
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