Malnutrition in Ebonyi major health challenge – UNICEF

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The United Nations Children’s Fund has described malnutrition as a major public health challenge in Ebonyi State.

It stated this on Monday in Abakaliki, during the official handover of 2,832 cartons of small-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplements (SQ-LNS), procured through the Child Nutrition Match-Fund project of the organisation.

Handing over the nutrient supplements to the state government at the old Government House, Abakaliki, Chief of the UNICEF Field Office, Mrs. Juliet Chiluwe, said the prevalence of stunting among children under five in the state increased from 20.6 per cent in 2015 to 25 per cent in 2018 and 32 per cent in 2024.

According to her, the increasing rates underscore the urgency of scaling up evidence-based interventions like the SQ-LNS, especially in priority states like Ebonyi.

She said, “Today’s handover is a product of a child nutrition match fund, a project, a co-financing mechanism that promotes shared responsibility between government, UNICEF and development partners.

“In the fight against child malnutrition, we commend the Ebonyi State Government for its strategic investment of 150 million naira which was matched by UNICEF resulting in the procurement and delivery of 2,832 cartons of SQ-LNS. Now being officially handed over, this partnership exemplifies sustainable financing for nutrition and domestic resource mobilisation in action.

“Malnutrition remains a major public health challenge in Ebonyi State and across Nigeria.

“The prevalence of stunting among children under five in Ebonyi increased from 20.6 per cent in 2015 to 25 per cent in 2018 and in 2024, 32 per cent based on the NDHS data. This increase in rates underscores the urgency of scaling up evidence-based interventions like SQ-LNS, especially in priority states such as Ebonyi.

“A critical window during the first 1,000 days of life with proper deployment through the primary health care platforms and community structures, this applies with significantly improved child growth, immunity, cognitive development, and overall survival in Ebonyi State,” she stated.

She urged the state government to ensure efficient last-mile distribution of the supplements to health facilities and communities, especially in rural and hard-to-reach areas.

Governor Francis Nwifuru, who received the supplements, expressed the hope that they will reduce the high rate of malnutrition in the state.

Governor Nwifuru, who was represented by his Deputy, Patricia Obila, vowed the supplements will be distributed accordingly to achieve the objective.

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