UNICEF, in collaboration with the Imo State Government and with support from the Gates Foundation, has initiated efforts to strengthen maternal and child nutrition.
The organisation’s Chief of Enugu Field Office, Mrs Juliet Chiluwe, disclosed this during Thursday’s meeting involving the state Ministry of Health, Imo Primary Healthcare Development Agency, and UNICEF in Owerri.
The meeting was convened to review and validate the nutrition Social and Behaviour Change (SBC) strategy for Imo State and the integration of Multiple Micronutrient Supplementation (MMS) for pregnant women.
Chiluwe commended the Imo State Government for its commitment to investing in human capital, health, and sustainable development.
She assured that UNICEF, with support from the Gates Foundation, would continue to advance the nutrition agenda in the state.
She described MMS as “a cost-effective intervention that helps reduce anaemia, low birth weight, stillbirths, and other adverse maternal and child health outcomes.”
Chiluwe called for strong government ownership, coordinated implementation, and increased domestic investment.
“We encourage greater state investment in the Child Nutrition Fund to support the procurement of MMS and other essential nutrition commodities. This will strengthen sustainability, unlock additional partner support, and ensure continued access to life-saving nutrition interventions for women and children,” she said.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr Chioma Egu, said the SBC strategy was designed to help individuals and families make healthier nutrition choices from pregnancy and infancy through childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and old age.
Egu added that the strategy promotes good nutrition practices, such as proper maternal nutrition, exclusive breastfeeding, appropriate complementary feeding, micronutrient supplementation, healthy eating habits, hygiene, and timely utilisation of health services.
She commended healthcare workers and community volunteers in the state for their dedication and tireless efforts in driving progress in nutrition programming and service delivery. She also called for the holistic implementation of the meeting’s outcomes.
“By integrating MMS into our SBC framework, we are ensuring that pregnant women across Imo, in both rural and urban communities, not only have access to these essential supplements but also understand their importance and are empowered to utilise them appropriately.
“When a pregnant woman in a rural community receives MMS, she is not just taking a supplement – she is taking a step toward a healthier pregnancy, a stronger baby, and a brighter future for her family,” Egu said.
The Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Mr Anslem Anyanwu, said the State Government was committed to sustaining the programme through relevant policies, increased ownership, resource mobilisation, and the creation of an enabling environment.
Anyanwu thanked UNICEF, the Gates Foundation, and all stakeholders and partners for their technical and financial contributions, which continue to advance the nutrition agenda in the state.
The meeting was also attended by permanent secretaries of relevant government ministries, civil society organisations, and representatives of academic institutions, among others.
