Enugu, UNICEF, partners push improved nutrition to tackle child malnutrition

The Enugu State Government, in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the Child Nutrition Fund, USA, and other development partners, have reiterated the importance of proper nutrition during a child’s first 1,000 days of life, describing the period as critical to healthy growth, brain development and lifelong wellbeing.

The stakeholders made the call during a one-day intensive scaling-up and review meeting on child nutrition held in Enugu with the theme, “Combat Child Malnutrition and Enhance Healthy Growth.”

Delivering the keynote address, Benndeth Okoli, the Enugu State Commissioner for Human Development and Poverty Eradication, who convened the meeting, said adequate nutrition from conception until a child’s second birthday provides the foundation for optimal physical and cognitive development while strengthening immunity against chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes and certain cancers later in life.

She described the first 1,000 days, from conception to a child’s second birthday, as a unique window of opportunity to ensure proper growth, brain development and future productivity.

According to her, “Adequate and diverse nutrition during this period can significantly improve a child’s chances of survival, healthy development and future productivity.

“As the ministry responsible for human development and poverty reduction, we recognise that malnutrition is not merely a health challenge, it is both a cause and a consequence of poverty.”

Okoli noted that families living in poverty often struggle to access nutritious food, quality healthcare and other essential services required for healthy child development.

She emphasised the importance of collaboration among relevant ministries, particularly those responsible for health, agriculture and water resources, stressing that access to safe water and nutritious food remains central to achieving sustainable child development.

She said the meeting was designed to review progress made so far, strengthen inter-agency collaboration, identify implementation gaps and develop practical strategies for expanding nutrition interventions across the state.

Speaking at the event, Ngozi Onuora, UNICEF Nutrition Specialist at the UNICEF Enugu Field Office, said the organisation’s intervention focuses on improving dietary diversity after the first six months of exclusive breastfeeding to address the state’s child malnutrition challenge.

She disclosed that about 15% of children in Enugu State are stunted, an indication of chronic malnutrition resulting from inadequate nutrition during the early stages of life.

According to Onuora, it is disturbing that despite Enugu’s reputation as an agrarian state, many children still suffer from malnutrition and stunted growth.

She explained that Enugu is among the beneficiary states of a United Nations-supported grant aimed at preventing malnutrition during the first 1,000 days of life.

As part of the intervention, UNICEF introduced a model project on dietary diversity to ensure that children received appropriate complementary feeding after six months of exclusive breastfeeding.