The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has urged governments and communities to step up investment in child nutrition, stressing that every $1 spent yields a $16 return.
Plateau Faces Food Poverty
Speaking at the close of a two-day media dialogue in Jos, Plateau State, UNICEF Nutrition Specialist Philomena Ireneexplained that while exclusive breastfeeding remains crucial for infants, children aged six to 23 months must transition to nutrient-rich complementary foods for healthy growth.
She pointed to the 2021 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey, which shows that two out of every three children in Plateau State live in food poverty.
As a result, many lack the dietary diversity they need during the critical first 1,000 days of life.
“It costs ₦21,000 to prevent malnutrition but more than ₦190,000 to treat it,” Irene emphasised.
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Expanding Local Solutions
To address this gap, Plateau State in 2024 committed $200,000 to the Child Nutrition Fund.
UNICEF matched the contribution, and together they secured over 5,900 cartons of Small Quantity Lipid-Based Nutrient Supplements (SQ-LNS) for distribution.
Moreover, officials have begun discussions on producing SQ-LNS locally to cut costs and create jobs.
Irene concluded by calling on leaders, communities, and the media to act with urgency.
She stressed that malnutrition threatens not only children’s health but also Nigeria’s long-term development.
