Enugu State government has commended the continued technical and moral support of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) towards eradication of malnutrition and other child related challenges in the state.
Chris Robert Ozongwu, Enugu State commissioner for Budget and Planning, made this known during a one-day policy engagement organised by the ministry in collaboration with UNICEF for stakeholders and local government executives on the implementation of N774 multi-sectoral plan action on food and nutrition in Enugu State, with the theme, ‘Harnessing Optimal Development Potentials of Enugu Children and Adolescents through Investment in Maternal and Child Nutrition: A key to Sustainable Development in Enugu State.’
Ozongwu said that “UNICEF collaboration is a true demonstration of what can be achieved when we work together for a common goal.”
According to him, the programme was aimed at strengthening the foundation for the successful implementation of the N774 initiative and multi-sectoral plan of action on food and nutrition in Enugu State.
Ozongwu, represented by Clara Eze, permanent secretary of the ministry, noted that nutrition was the very foundation for the health, productivity and future of the people and the initiative was a government-led multi-sectoral coordination for nutrition, designed to operate in 774 local government area in Nigeria.
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“This is with the aim of scaling up high impact, cost-effective nutrition interventions, ” Ozongwu said.
The commissioner said that the establishment of the Local Government on Food and Nutrition in all the 17 LGA in Enugu State, was a move to achieving the National Policy on food and nutrition.
He commended some LGAs that have taken the lead in setting up their committees, and urged those yet to set up to take a key into the programme.
United Nations Children Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Enugu Field Office, in a goodwill message thanked the government of Enugu the effort it is putting to ensure that Child malnutrition in Enugu State is reduced.
Juliet Chiluwe, Chief of UNICEF Field Office, Enugu Represented by Ngozi Onuorah, UNICEF Nutrition Specialist, said the theme of the meeting was apt and timely and in line with the global development agenda, the Sustainable Development Goals which states,” by 2030, end all forms of malnutrition, including achieving, by 2025, the international agreed target on stunting and wasting in children under 5 years of age, and address the nutritional needs of adolescent girls, pregnant and lactating women and older persons.”
She gave a record of the data t in Enugu State, reflecting that about 156,272, of Children Under Five years were stunted according to the 2023/24 NDHS reports, which representing 15 percent of the children population in the state.
She attributed the poor state of nutrition for children to largely poor maternal, infant and young child feeding practices during the 1000 days (from pregnancy to the second birthday).
According to her, the dialogue was a crucial step towards transformative change.
“The government of Enugu State has recently demonstrated exemplary leadership through its contribution to the Child Nutrition Fund and the review of the state’s multi-sectoral strategic plan for nutrition.
“UNICEF highly commends these laudable efforts and affirms its unwavering commitment to working hand in hand with the government of Enugu state to translate this strategic plan into tangible outcomes,” she said.
She said that UNICEF was committed to partnering with Enugu State and other relevant partners and stakeholders to achieve the agenda.
She called for the stakeholders to join hands in, not only improving children nutrition in the state but ensure a healthy living for all.
Also in her contribution, Benedette Okoli, commissioner for Human Capital Development and Poverty Eradication, sees nutrition as very important aspect of life both children and adults.
“If you don’t eat well; you can’t think well,” she said.
Many people think that balanced food is expensive no I don’t think it is expensive all that one needs is a balance food.
According to her, “balanced diet was not as expensive as the public believed; one can combine local delicacies to get a balanced nutritional diet, not necessary going to buy many things from the market.”
