Local Government Council chairmen in Cross River State have committed to support the Latter-day Saints Charity-funded project on malnutrition.

The council chairmen committed at a one-day high-level engagement meeting with ALGON, state policymakers and stakeholders on the implementation of the Latter-day Saints Charity (LDSC)- funded project organized by the Cross River State Planning Commission in collaboration with UNICEF in Calabar on Wednesday.

The meeting was convened to sensitize stakeholders on the high prevalence of malnutrition in the state and the need for collaborative efforts to tackle it in the first 1,000 days of life.

Addressing participants, Nutrition Specialist, UNICEF Enugu Field Office, Dr Ngozi Onuora, said Cross River is one of five states selected to benefit from the LDSC project being implemented by UNICEF.

She explained that the intervention targets the first 1,000 days — from conception through pregnancy and childbirth until the child’s second birthday — considered the most critical window for child growth and brain development.

According to her, nine local government areas in Cross River have been selected for the pilot, adding that UNICEF is engaging ALGON, council chairmen, legislators and MDAs to ensure effective rollout.

Onuora disclosed that while Cross River has recorded improvement, with stunting declining from 23% in 2018 to 21% in 2024 and minimum dietary diversity rising from 23% to 51%, about 80% of children aged 0-6 months still do not receive appropriate exclusive breastfeeding.

“Approximately one in every five children in Cross River is shorter than expected height for age due to poor infant and young child feeding practices,” she said.

She said UNICEF aims to bring stunting below 10% through promotion of exclusive breastfeeding, timely complementary feeding, home gardening, community gardens and small livestock production.

She also urged the state government to invest in the Child Nutrition Fund, where UNICEF matches state contribution to procure lipid-based nutrient supplements, multiple micronutrient supplements for pregnant women and therapeutic foods for children with severe acute malnutrition.

Lead facilitator and independent nutrition consultant, Ada Ezeogu, said tackling malnutrition required more than making food available, stressing the need for proper caregiving, sanitation and access to health facilities.

“You need the food, you need the caring practices, and then you need the healthy environment, which has to do with sanitation and health facilities,” Ezeogu said.

She urged families to ensure that pregnant women received nutritious diets, antenatal care and recommended supplements, including iron and folic acid, while providing children with appropriate foods as they grew.

Responding, Cross River State ALGON Chairman, Chief Chris Agbeh, represented by Ogoja Local Government Council Secretary, Chief Alex Atem, assured UNICEF of full support at grassroots level, promising to mainstream nutrition into LGA plans and facilitate community mobilization for the project

He said the councils would establish dedicated budget lines for nutrition, support counterpart funding and intensify awareness campaigns at ward level.