According to the Federal Government and Nutrition International (NI), Nigeria has the highest burden of malnutrition in Africa and the second highest globally, with at least 17 million Nigerian children being malnourished.
Despite significant investments, malnutrition remains a significant public health problem, according to Dr. Binyerem Ukaire, the Director of Health and Nutrition at the Federal Ministry of Health.
The major underlying causes of malnutrition in Nigeria are poor infant and young child feeding practices, inadequate access to healthcare, water, and sanitation, poor access to and consumption of a safe nutritious diet rich in both macro and micronutrients, and a high level of poverty.
We're now on WhatsApp. Click here to join.
Dr. Osita Okonkwo, the Country Director of NI Nigeria, emphasized that malnutrition is not only a chronic problem but also an urgent problem that the Federal Government must address.
He presented the summary of findings from a meeting held to disseminate the results of the home fortification implementation research that used Small Quantity Lipid-based Nutrient Supplements (SQLNS) and Multiple Micronutrient Powders (MNP) administered to eligible target populations in the Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria.
Dr. Okonkwo noted that the implementation fidelity of the project was high, with appropriate targeting of poor households with under-five children as beneficiaries and appropriateness of the intervention context.
He also reported that the caregivers’ perception of the project was improving with increasing duration of the intervention, and the acceptability of the MNPs by the children and caregivers was generally high.
According to him, key drivers of adherence included perceived improvements in health, appetite, strength, and physical growth of index children benefits.
Dr. Okonkwo further stated that Integrated Community Outreach Clinics had the potential, capacity, and acceptability to distribute MNP and other nutrition commodities, but supervision and logistic supply needed to be strengthened to ensure that the teams deliver the commodity according to plan.
He suggested that improved engagement with other stakeholders, such as community gatekeepers and household heads, could increase the acceptability and utilization of MNP in households.
