By Folasade Akpan

The Federal Government, in collaboration with development partners, has committed 30million dollars to tackle child malnutrition through the Small Quantity Lipid-Based Nutrient Supplements (SQ-LNS) initiative.

Mr Tope Ogunbi, the Country Director, Evidence Action, a non-profit organisation, disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja at the National Training of Trainers (ToT) on SQ-LNS delivery.

He said that the initiative, supported by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), would provide nutritional supplements to two million children between six and 23 months across the country for six months.

He added that the move was to prevent malnutrition among under-five children in high-burden states.

The country director explained that “the Federal Government has committed 15 million dollars, while UNICEF matched the amount to procure about 600,000 cartons of the supplement.

“This intervention is designed to prevent, not treat, malnutrition. The supplement will help children in food-insecure areas maintain proper growth and development.”

Ogunbi said that through UNICEF’s Child Nutrition Fund, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, procured more than 600,000 cartons of the product, with distribution to states expected to begin before the end of October.

Mr Emmanuel Abatta, the Director, Nutrition Information System at the ministry, said malnutrition, stunting and wasting remained major public health challenges in the country.

“The programme focuses on children aged six to 23 months. Health workers will be trained to guide mothers on how to administer the supplements effectively,” he said.

Abatta explained that the rollout would begin in 20 high-burden states, starting with training at the national level before extending to states and local government areas.

On his part, Dr Lekan Olubajo, the Technical Adviser, Department of Nutrition, said the intervention forms part of the broader Maternal, Infant and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN) strategy.

“The SQ-LNS is a preventive measure integrated into complementary feeding. It ensures children don’t slide into malnutrition, especially in food-insecure areas,” he said.

According to him, the supplement supports proper growth and helps to maintain adequate nutritional status among young children.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that SQ-LNS is a fortified lipid-based paste designed to complement the diets of children aged six to 23 months with essential nutrients.

It contains 24 micronutrients made up of 13 vitamins and 11 minerals, as well as protein, fat, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and two essential fatty acids — linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid.

SQ-LNS, locally known as Nutributter, is given with complementary foods and is not a standalone meal. It has been shown through research to significantly reduce stunting, wasting and underweight among young children.

Meanwhile, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, in collaboration with UNICEF, Evidence Action and other partners, has developed a standardised SQ-LNS training manual for health workers nationwide to ensure uniform implementation.

The National ToT brought together representatives from 20 states, development partners and health professionals to strengthen capacity for effective rollout of the SQ-LNS programme across the country. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu