The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), in collaboration with the Cross River State Government has begun the implemen.tation of a new initiative  aimed at preventing  maternal and child  malnutrition during the first 1,000 days of life – a critical period to a child’s survival, growth and future productivity.

The one-year project, funded by the Latter-day Saints Charities, aims to improve maternal and child nutrition through stronger planning, financing, coordination, accountability and community engagement.

Speaking during a stakeholders meeting to develop a comprehensive work plan that will guide implementation  of the programme in Calabar over the weekend, UNICEF Chief of Field Office, Enugu, Dr. Julie Chiluwe,  stressed that investments made from conception until a child’s second birthday deliver the highest returns in human capital development.

Chiluwe, represented at the event by Nutrition Specialist, UNICEF Enugu Field Office, Ngozi Onuora noted that malnutrition remains a major threat to child survival, citing the 2023–2024 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey, which identified the condition as a significant challenge affecting children in Cross River State.

She said malnutrition continues to threaten children’s growth, brain development, learning ability and future productivity, stressing that prevention must begin before birth through quality antenatal care, safe delivery, exclusive breastfeeding and appropriate complementary feeding.

She said  Cross River, was in May this year selected as one of five states to benefit from the Latter-day Saints Charity Fund grant, which focuses on preventing malnutrition during the first 1,000 days of life.

According to Chiluwe, the project aligns with the Federal Government’s Nutrition 774 Initiative (N-774), the Health Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp) and the National Food and Nutrition Policy.

She noted that preventive nutrition interventions cost about ₦21,000 per child compared with approximately ₦190,000 required to treat severe acute malnutrition, making prevention a far more cost-effective investment.

Chiluwe said the intervention would strengthen evidence-based planning, coordination, accountability and financing for nutrition programmes at state and local government levels. It will also reinforce health, food and social protection systems to ensure pregnant women and young children receive quality nutrition services throughout the first 1,000 days of life.

The project will further promote healthy diets through social and behaviour change interventions designed to improve exclusive breastfeeding, complementary feeding, maternal nutrition, micronutrient intake and community-based nutrition services.

“We have already integrated several nutrition activities, including promoting exclusive breastfeeding, training caregivers on Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) practices, complementary feeding, and encouraging dietary diversity to ensure children receive adequate nutrition for healthy growth and development.

According to her, UNICEF has already recorded successes in the state, including the recovery of severely malnourished children through Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) and community-based nutrition support.

Chiluwe, however, expressed concern over the state’s nutrition indicators, noting that only 12 per cent of children aged six to 23 months receive the minimum dietary diversity.

She added that only 27 per cent of infants are exclusively breastfed, while the state’s stunting rate stands at 21 per cent, with implications for learning, productivity and future economic growth.

According to her, UNICEF has already recorded successes in the state, including the recovery of severely malnourished children through Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) and community-based nutrition support

She explained that UNICEF adopts a matching-fund arrangement under which the organisation matches state investments in child nutrition to expand interventions.

The UNICEF Chief of Field Officer commended the Cross River State governor, Senator Bassey Otu for the state’s sustained commitment to improving the wellbeing of women and children through collaboration with development partners.

Chiluwe called on government, traditional and religious leaders, civil society organisations, development partners and communities to sustain investment in nutrition, improve domestic financing, strengthen accountability and mobilise families to adopt optimal maternal, infant and young child feeding practices.

She also urged the media to champion solutions-focused reporting that promotes prevention and positive behaviour change.

Also speaking,  the Director of Nutrition, Cross River State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Winifred Ogar,
 described the initiative that will cover nine high burden local government areas across the state as a timely investment in the future of children and the state.

She said the programme will be implemented in Ogoja, Obudu and Yala in the Northern Senatorial District; Boki, Yakurr and Obubra in the Central Senatorial District; and Odukpani, Calabar South and Biase in the Southern Senatorial District.

Ogar said the LGAs were selected because of high rates of severe acute malnutrition, low birth weight, preterm births, zero-dose children and poor access to healthcare, with Yala included because of its large underserved population.

She said malnutrition continues to threaten children’s growth, brain development, learning ability and future productivity, stressing that prevention must begin before birth through quality antenatal care, safe delivery, exclusive breastfeeding and appropriate complementary feeding.

“Malnutrition affects children’s growth, learning ability and future productivity. We must strengthen preventive measures through antenatal care, safe delivery, exclusive breastfeeding and appropriate complementary feeding.”

Dr Ogar reaffirmed the Cross River State Government’s commitment to working with development partners to strengthen nutrition services and improve child survival across the state.

An Independent Consultant on Public Finance for Children, consulting for  UNICEF Enugu Field Office, Dr. David Okelue Ugwanta, who spoke said the programme which is designed to strengthen investment in nutrition, is  coming at a crucial time when malnutrition is becoming more prevalent, especially in hard to reach communities across Cross River State.

“This period, from conception to a child’s second birthday, is a critical window for growth and development and If anything goes wrong during this period, it can lead to stunting and other long term consequences of malnutrition that affect a child’s physical and cognitive development. That is why it is important to advocate for greater investment in nutrition.

He thanked Cross River State Government for their support and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Charities for partnering in the fight against malnutrition and helping to secure a healthier future for every child during the first 1,000 days of life.

Stakeholders at the event expressed optimism that the initiative would strengthen nutrition services, improve maternal and child feeding practices, enhance community participation and reduce child malnutrition and mortality in Cross River State.