Workshop in Akwa Ibom Adapts National Strategy to Combat Malnutrition

Stakeholders in Akwa Ibom State are attending a five-day workshop to adapt the National Social Behaviour Change (SBC) Strategy for community mobilization under the USAID-funded

Advancing Nutrition in Nigeria Project, implemented by Helen Keller International.

Speaking at the workshop’s opening, Mrs. Grace Mogekwu, representing the Federal Ministry of Health, highlighted the importance of addressing malnutrition and applauded Helen Keller International for its commitment to advancing nutrition in the state.

Citing the 2023 National Demographic and Health Survey, Mogekwu emphasized the need for innovative strategies to combat malnutrition, describing nutrition as a “continuum of care” across all life stages.

Dr. Idongesit Bassey Umoh, Akwa Ibom State Nutrition Officer, described the workshop as a crucial step in tackling rising malnutrition rates in the state and called for teamwork to ensure success.

Helen Keller International’s representative, Mr. Muyiwa Olowe, urged local stakeholders to take ownership of the initiative, emphasizing its potential to improve nutrition outcomes, particularly for vulnerable groups such as women and children under five.

The Advancing Nutrition in Nigeria Project is a multisectoral initiative aimed at reducing malnutrition through collaborative and community-driven efforts in Akwa Ibom and beyond.