The Enugu State Government, in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has intensified efforts to combat child malnutrition by training frontline healthcare workers across the state’s 17 local government areas on the effective administration of key nutritional supplements for children.
The training focused on the use of Small Quantity Lipid-Based Nutrient Supplements (SQ-LNS), Multiple Micronutrient Supplements (MMS), and Mid-Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) screening techniques aimed at improving the nutritional status of children aged six to 23 months.
The three-day capacity-building programme, organized by the Enugu State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (ENSPHCDA) and the State Ministry of Health with technical support from UNICEF, concluded in Enugu on Friday.
Speaking during the training, UNICEF Field Office Chief in Enugu, Ms. Juliet Chiluwe, described the programme as a critical step towards reducing micronutrient deficiencies among children and improving maternal and child health outcomes across the state.
She explained that the training was designed to equip healthcare workers with the knowledge and skills needed to properly administer the supplements and educate caregivers on their importance.
According to her, the participants are expected to transfer the knowledge gained to other healthcare workers in their respective local government areas to ensure wider coverage and effective implementation of the programme.
Chiluwe also emphasized the need for accountability in the distribution of the nutritional commodities, warning against diversion of the supplements from their intended beneficiaries.
“These commodities are meant specifically for children and must be administered through healthcare facilities. It is important to ensure that there are no leakages into local markets and that the products reach the children who need them,” she said.
She commended the Enugu State Government for providing counterpart funding that enabled the procurement of the micronutrient supplements through the Child Nutrition Fund initiative.
The UNICEF official noted that the agency remains committed to supporting state governments in advancing children’s rights, particularly through interventions that improve nutrition, health and overall human capital development.
She further encouraged parents, caregivers and nursing mothers to take advantage of the free nutritional support available at primary healthcare centres across the state.
“Parents should ensure that their children receive routine immunization, while pregnant women should attend antenatal services regularly. Eligible children between six and twenty-three months should also be enrolled to benefit from the SQ-LNS supplements,” she advised.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of ENSPHCDA, Dr. Ifeyinwa Ani-Osheku, represented by the agency’s Director of Disease Control and Immunisation, Dr. Chinelo Nnadi, said the training was part of the state’s broader strategy to address child malnutrition and improve health outcomes.
She praised Governor Peter Mbah for supporting the Child Nutrition Fund initiative and acknowledged UNICEF’s contribution towards making the programme a reality.
According to her, the success of the intervention depends largely on the capacity of healthcare workers to administer the supplements correctly and maintain proper documentation.
She explained that each eligible child is expected to receive 180 sachets of the supplement over a six-month period, adding that consistent use can significantly improve a child’s nutritional status and reduce the risk of malnutrition.
“This supplement is intended to complement a child’s regular diet. It contains concentrated nutrients that help improve immunity and support healthy growth and development,” she said.
Dr. Nnadi further noted that participants were carefully selected from health facilities expected to implement the programme and would, in turn, train other healthcare workers and sensitize mothers within their communities.
One of the resource persons at the training, Dr. Robert Chima, stressed the importance of proper implementation, noting that healthcare workers serve as the first point of contact in ensuring that the intervention achieves its intended impact.
He warned that failure to adhere to established guidelines could undermine the effectiveness of the programme and diminish the benefits of the resources invested by both UNICEF and the state government.
Dr. Chima expressed confidence that the training would enhance the capacity of healthcare workers to tackle malnutrition, improve child nutrition indicators and contribute to reducing infant mortality across Enugu State.
The initiative forms part of ongoing efforts by the Enugu State Government and UNICEF to strengthen primary healthcare services and ensure that children receive the nutritional support required for healthy growth and development.