‎UNICEF Raises Concern over Rate of Child Malnutrition in Ebonyi

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has raised seriously alarm over the rate of child malnutrition in Ebonyi State.
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‎UNICEF hinted that 32 per cent of children under five years in Ebonyi are stunted as of the 2024 National Demographic and Health Survey.
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‎UNICEF Enugu Field Office Chief, Juliet Chiluwe, revealed this during the official handover of Small Quantity Lipid-Based Nutrient Supplements (SQ-LNS) to the Ebonyi State Government in Abakaliki.
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‎Chiluwe described malnutrition as a major public health challenge that demands urgent attention.
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‎She stated that the prevalence of stunting among children under five years had continued to rise from 20.6 per cent in 2015 to 25 per cent in 2018, and now 32 per cent in 2024, calling for immediate action to reverse the trend.
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‎Chiluwe explained that the SQ-LNS intervention is a high-impact nutrition measure designed to prevent stunting and micronutrient deficiencies among children aged six to 23 months, a critical window within the first 1,000 days of life.
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‎According to her, the Ebonyi State Government contributed N150 million, which was matched by UNICEF, resulting in the procurement and delivery of 2,832 cartons of SQ-LNS for use across the state.
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‎She lauded the state government’s leadership and commitment to nutrition financing, noting that Ebonyi’s effort sets an example for other sub-national governments in Nigeria.
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‎The Deputy Governor, Patricia Obila, who represented the governor, Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, at the event, gave the assurance that the state government would sustain efforts to eradicate malnutrition among children.
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‎She likened the state’s commitment to the success story of eradicating polio in Ebonyi, stressing that similar community sensitisation and field engagement would be key in achieving results.
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‎Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Moses Ekuma, while speaking with journalists, commended UNICEF for its continuous support, describing the initiative as a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Health and the organisation.