The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), in partnership with the Imo State Government and supported by the Gates Foundation, has intensified efforts to improve maternal and child nutrition across the state.
The initiative was highlighted during a meeting held in Owerri on Thursday involving the Imo State Ministry of Health, the Imo Primary Healthcare Development Agency, and UNICEF officials. The meeting focused on reviewing and validating the state’s Nutrition Social Behaviour Change (SBC) strategy and integrating Multiple Micronutrient Supplementation (MMS) for pregnant women.
Speaking at the meeting, the Chief of UNICEF’s Enugu Field Office, Mrs Juliet Chiluwe, praised the Imo State Government for prioritising investments in healthcare, human capital development, and sustainable growth.
She reaffirmed UNICEF’s commitment, alongside the Gates Foundation, to supporting the state’s nutrition agenda and improving the wellbeing of women and children.
Chiluwe described Multiple Micronutrient Supplementation as an affordable and effective intervention that helps reduce anaemia, low birth weight, stillbirths, and other health complications affecting mothers and babies.
She stressed the need for stronger government ownership, proper coordination, and increased local funding to ensure the sustainability of nutrition programmes.
“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 and ensure continued access to life-saving interventions for women and children,” she said.
Imo State Commissioner for Health, Dr Chioma Egu, explained that the Social Behaviour Change strategy was developed to help individuals and families adopt healthier nutrition practices from pregnancy through childhood and adulthood.
According to her, the strategy promotes maternal nutrition, exclusive breastfeeding, proper complementary feeding, micronutrient supplementation, healthy diets, hygiene, and timely use of healthcare services.
She commended healthcare workers and community volunteers for their efforts in improving nutrition services across the state.
Dr Egu also emphasised the importance of integrating MMS into the state’s nutrition framework, saying it would ensure pregnant women in both rural and urban areas not only receive supplements but also understand their importance.
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“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,” she said.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Mr Anslem Anyanwu, assured stakeholders of the state government’s commitment to sustaining the programme through policy support, resource mobilisation, and the creation of an enabling environment.
He appreciated UNICEF, the Gates Foundation, and other development partners for their technical and financial support toward improving nutrition and healthcare outcomes in Imo State.
The meeting was attended by permanent secretaries from relevant ministries, civil society organisations, academic institutions, and other stakeholders in the health sector.
