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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Health & Science

Bayelsa, UNICEF, church unveil N280m project to fight malnutrition

From The Punch · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Bayelsa, UNICEF, and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints launched a project to combat malnutrition in children under two.
  • The initiative focuses on the critical first 1,000 days of life, from pregnancy to a child's second birthday.
  • The project is funded equally by the Bayelsa government and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, with UNICEF also contributing.

Bayelsa State, in partnership with UNICEF and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has launched a significant one-year project aimed at preventing malnutrition during the crucial first 1,000 days of life. The initiative targets pregnant women and children under the age of two across the state, recognizing this period as vital for physical and brain development.

That is what the first 1,000 days of life protect. From the moment a woman becomes pregnant to her child’s second birthday, a body and a brain are being built. What happens in that window cannot be undone later.

— Ms Celine LafoucriereUNICEF Chief of Field Office, Lagos, explaining the critical importance of the first 1,000 days of life for child development.

UNICEF's Chief of Field Office in Lagos, Ms. Celine Lafoucriere, emphasized that the project seeks to detect and prevent malnutrition early, as interventions during this window are critical and cannot be reversed later. She highlighted concerning statistics from the National Demographic and Health Survey 2024, which indicated that over a quarter of children in Nigeria are stunted, and nearly half of pregnant women suffer from anemia. Stunting, caused by inadequate early nutrition, can lead to poor educational outcomes and reduced economic opportunities later in life.

The most recent National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS 2024) found that more than one in four children in Nigeria are stunted, while nearly half of pregnant women are anaemic.

— Ms Celine LafoucriereHighlighting the prevalence of malnutrition and anemia in Nigeria to underscore the need for the project.

"That is exactly what this project, and the funding behind it, is built to change," Lafoucriere stated, underscoring the project's goal to alter this trajectory for children who might otherwise struggle in school and future employment. The project represents a joint investment, with the Bayelsa Government and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints each contributing N140 million, totaling N280 million. UNICEF also provided matching funds.

That is exactly what this project, and the funding behind it, is built to change.

— Ms Celine LafoucriereEmphasizing the project's objective to combat the negative long-term consequences of early childhood malnutrition.

This collaboration is seen as a strong demonstration of commitment from both government and development partners to improve child nutrition and maternal health. Lafoucriere praised the Bayelsa Government and the faith-based organization for their investment in the well-being of the state's children. The project involves regular monitoring of children's growth and providing mothers with guidance on infant feeding, ensuring that vulnerable children receive necessary attention and follow-up care.

UNICEF is proud to stand with Bayelsa in this work. When government takes the lead and partners follow through with real support, nutrition supplies reach children before problems take root.

— Ms Celine LafoucrierePraising the collaborative effort and the effectiveness of timely interventions in child nutrition.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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