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From Uchenna Inya, Abakaliki
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has described malnutrition as a major public health challenge in Ebonyi State.
The organisation stated this, yesterday, in Abakaliki, the state capital, 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 UNICEF Field office, Mrs. Juliet Chiluwe, revealed that the prevalence of stunted growth among children under five in the state increased from 20.6 percent in 2015 to 25 percent in 2018 and 32 percent in 2024.
She said the increasing rates underscore the urgency of scaling up evidence-based interventions like the SQ-LNS, especially in priority states like Ebonyi. “Today’s handover is a product of a child nutrition match fund, a project, a co-financing mechanism that promotes shared responsibility between the government, UNICEF, and development partners.
“In the fight against child malnutrition, we commend the Ebonyi State Government for its strategic investment of N150 million, which was matched by UNICEF, resulting in the procurement and delivery of two points, 2,800 cartons of SQ illness. 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.
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The prevalence of stunting among children under five in Ebonyi increased from 20.6 percent in 2015 to 25 percent in 2018, and in 2024, 32 percent based on the NDHS app. This increase in rates underscore the agency of scaling up evidence-based interventions like SQ illness, especially in private 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 it would reduce the high rate of malnutrition in the state.
The governor, represented by his deputy, Patricia Obila, assured that the supplements would be distributed, accordingly, to achieve the objective.
