The United Nations Children’s Fund, in collaboration with the United States Government and the Oyo State Government, has launched a large-scale nutrition intervention programme aimed at combating malnutrition among pregnant women, nursing mothers, and children across 20 local government areas in the state.
The initiative, unveiled during a stakeholders’ meeting in Ibadan, focuses on the critical first 1,000 days of a child’s life — from conception to age two — regarded as the most important period for healthy growth and brain development.
Speaking at the event, UNICEF Nutrition Manager in Nigeria, Sumit Karn, explained that the one-year programme would support child development through breastfeeding promotion, vitamin supplementation, food fortification, and improved infant feeding practices at the community level.
Oyo State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, revealed that the state had recorded progress in reducing child stunting, which dropped from 34.7% before 2023 to 23.4% after intensified nutrition interventions.
However, she expressed concern over the sharp increase in severe acute malnutrition, which rose from 1.8% to 14.4%, attributing the trend largely to poor infant feeding practices at the household level.
According to the commissioner, the state will begin distributing Small Quantity Lipid-based Nutrient Supplements (SQLNS) to children between six months and two years old, while ready-to-use therapeutic foods will also be provided for children already battling acute malnutrition.
Pregnant women are also expected to benefit from multiple micronutrient supplements aimed at preventing anaemia and pregnancy-related complications.
To prevent diversion and illegal sales of the nutrition products, the government has established an anti-diversion committee involving NAFDAC, the police, Amotekun Corps, the National Orientation Agency, and the Ministry of Justice.
Officials say the programme is expected to strengthen maternal and child health outcomes while improving nutrition indicators across grassroots communities in Oyo State.
