Targets 60% reduction by 2025
Rivers State Government has established the Integrative Management of Acute Malnutrition (IMAM) centres to tackle malnutrition among children who are under-five years old in the state.
  
Speaking during the launch at the Kelsey Harrison Hospital, at Emenike Mile 2 Diobu, in Port Harcourt City Council, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Adaeze Oreh, noted that a study shows that one in nine children under five years old has stunted growth in the state.
    
Oreh said that despite other reasons, the reason for stunted growth among young children is because of poor infant and early child feeding practices. She added that data reveals that as of 2021, just 26 per cent of children in the state were exclusively breastfed as recommended. 

The Commissioner also acknowledged that some healthcare providers have received training on how to detect cases of malnutrition in different local councils and to promptly administer the proper therapy.

She said: “Reports have indicated that in our state, one out of every nine children, who are under the age of five, has stunted growth. 
    
“The objective of the training includes increased awareness of malnutrition by our health care providers across several local councils.”
  
The Commissioner said that the state government is committed to having at least 60 per cent of children in health by 2025, adding that the opening of the IMAM centres will support proper management and treatment of malnutrition.