The UNICEF, in collaboration with the Imo government and support from the Gates Foundation, has initiated efforts to strengthen maternal and child nutrition.

Its chief of Enugu field office, Juliet Chiluwe, disclosed this during Thursday’s meeting of the health ministry, Imo Primary Healthcare Development Agency and UNICEF in Owerri.

The meeting was convened to review and validate the nutrition Social Behaviour Change strategy for Imo and the integration of Multiple Micronutrient Supplementation for pregnant women.

Ms Chiluwe commended the Imo Government for its commitment to investing in human capital, health and sustainable development. She gave assurance that UNICEF, with support from Gates Foundation, would continue to advance the nutrition agenda.

Ms Chiluwe described MMS as a “cost-effective intervention that helps reduce anemia, low birth weight, stillbirths, and other adverse maternal and child health outcomes”.

Ms 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 health commissioner, Chioma Egu, said that SBC was designed to help individuals and families make healthier nutrition choices from pregnancy and infancy to childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and old age.

Ms Egu also said 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 holistic implementation of the meeting’s outcome.

“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,” Ms Egu said.

The Imo commissioner for budget and economic planning, Anslem Anyanwu, said the government was committed to sustaining the programme through relevant policies, increased ownership, resource mobilisation, and creation of an enabling environment.

(NAN)