United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has handed over nutrition supplements to Enugu State Government in a move to combat malnutrition among children and pregnant women across communities in the state.
The handover, which took place in Enugu on Tuesday, is expected to directly impact households in both urban and rural areas, including communities where cases of child undernutrition and maternal anaemia remain a concern.
The supplies, Small-Quantity Lipid-Based Nutrient Supplements (SQ-LNS), Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF), and multiple micronutrient supplements—will be distributed through primary healthcare centres and community health structures across the 17 local government areas.
Speaking , the UNICEF Nigeria’s Chief of Nutrition, Nemat Hajeebhoy, said the intervention was timely, noting that rising malnutrition indicators in the state require urgent and sustained response.
She disclosed that under the Child Nutrition Fund, the state government committed N160 million, which UNICEF matched, enabling the procurement of thousands of cartons of life-saving nutrition products for children and pregnant women.
Hajeebhoy, however, raised concern that stunting among children under five in Enugu has risen to 15 per cent, stressing the need for stronger grassroots awareness and proper utilisation of the supplements by caregivers.
Earlier in her opening remarks, the Executive Secretary of the Enugu State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Ifeyinwa Ani-Osheku, described the intervention as a historic milestone.
According to her, the supplies include:
854 cartons of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF)
2,088 cartons of Small-Quantity Lipid-Based Nutrient Supplements (SQ-LNS)
She emphasised that the initiative represents not just a transfer of commodities but “a transfer of potential”, particularly in addressing severe acute malnutrition and supporting child brain development.
Ani-Osheku further noted that Enugu is the only state co-financing Multiple Micronutrient Supplements under the CNF, targeting anaemia among pregnant women.
Speaking, the Deputy Chairman of ALGON in the state and Chairman of Igbo-Eze South LGA, Ferdinand Ukwueze, commended the governor’s focus on child survival.
He assured that local governments would ensure effective last-mile distribution of the commodities.
A traditional ruler, Innocent Ogbodo, lauded the Governor Mbah’s èadministration’s healthcare investments and called for stronger commitment from health workers to maximise impact.
In his remarks has the Commissioner for Children, Gender Affairs and Social Development, Ngozi Enih, described the initiative as a reflection of strong political will.
She noted that prompt release of counterpart funding strengthened the partnership with UNICEF and assured transparency in distribution.
Similarly, the Commissioner for Human Capital Development and Poverty Eradication, Benedette Okolie, stressed that nutrition is central to building a productive society and called for sustained collaboration.
On his part, the Commissioner for Health Prof Dr George Ugwu, commended what he described as deliberate investment in children’s healthcare, assuring equitable distribution across rural and hard-to-reach communities.
In his remarks, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Donor Relations, Onyia Jnr, appreciated UNICEF’s continued support, describing the partnership as critical to improving child welfare and development outcomes.
Speaking after receiving the supplements, Enugu state Governor , Drr Peter Mbah, who was represented by the Deputy Governor Ifeanyi Ossai, reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to strengthening collaboration with development partners.
He disclosed that nutrition desk officers have been deployed across the 17 local government areas to ensure grassroots implementation and tracking of beneficiaries.
The Governor also highlighted the state’s Smart Schools feeding programme, which will provide at least one nutritious meal daily across over 260 schools, as part of broader efforts to tackle malnutrition holistically.
While commending UNICEF’s support, he called for sustained partnership to ensure the long-term success of the initiative, noting that it requires significant financial investment.
