The Enugu State Government, in partnership with UNICEF, has trained frontline healthcare workers from all 17 local government areas of the state on the administration of Lipid-Based Nutrient Supplements (SQ-LNS), Multiple Micronutrient Supplements (MMS), and the use of Mid-Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) screening for children aged six to 23 months. The initiative is aimed at preventing stunted growth and malnutrition.
The three-day training programme was designed to ensure the effective distribution and proper administration of the nutritional commodities procured by the state government in collaboration with UNICEF, ensuring they reach the intended beneficiaries.
Organised by the Enugu State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (ENSPHCDA) in conjunction with the Ministry of Health, and supported by UNICEF resource persons, the intensive training concluded on Friday, May 29, at Dannic Hotels, Enugu.
Speaking at the event, the Chief of UNICEF Field Office in Enugu, Juliet Chiluwe, urged participants to apply the knowledge gained to help prevent micronutrient deficiencies among children and women.
“At the end of the training, participants will have the capacity to administer SQ-LNS packages effectively. It also serves as a refresher course on managing women and children who visit health facilities,” she said.
She emphasised that the supplements are strictly intended for children and should not be diverted to local markets, stressing the need for proper distribution across healthcare facilities.
Chiluwe commended the Enugu State Government for providing counterpart funding for the procurement of the enhanced SQ-LNS supplements. She expressed confidence that the trainees would cascade the knowledge to other healthcare workers in their respective local government areas, ensuring wider reach and proper utilisation.
She further noted that UNICEF’s mandate is to partner with states to uphold children’s rights, which ultimately contributes to improved human capital development. According to her, the Enugu State Government, under Governor Peter Mbah, collaborated with UNICEF through the Child Nutrition Fund, with additional support from the United States, to implement the programme.
Chiluwe also encouraged caregivers and nursing mothers to take advantage of the free micronutrient supplements available at primary healthcare centres across the state. She advised parents to ensure children are fully immunised, pregnant women attend antenatal care, and eligible children between six and 23 months receive SQ-LNS support.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of ENSPHCDA, Dr. Ifeyinwa Ani-Osheku, represented by Dr. Chinelo Nnadi, Director of Disease Control and Immunisation, said the training was aimed at equipping healthcare workers with the necessary skills for proper supplement administration.
“This three-day workshop is designed to train frontline healthcare workers on the use of SQ-LNS procured by the state government,” she said, appreciating Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah and UNICEF for their financial and technical support.
She stressed that proper training is essential to achieving the state’s goal of reducing child malnutrition. According to her, participants—who are officers in charge of various health facilities and nutrition focal persons—were trained on product utilisation, documentation, and distribution processes.
She explained that the supplements are intended for children aged six to 23 months, with each child expected to consume 180 sachets over six months. When properly administered, the supplements significantly improve nutritional status and reduce the risk of malnutrition.
“This supplement is designed to complement children’s diets. It is nutrient-dense and helps boost immunity and overall health,” she added, urging mothers to access the free commodities at healthcare centres.
One of the resource persons, Dr. Robert Chima, noted that the training would equip participants with the expertise needed to reduce malnutrition and infant mortality in the state. He highlighted the critical role of facility heads in ensuring proper administration of the supplements.
Chima cautioned that without adequate knowledge and strict adherence to guidelines, the effectiveness of the supplements could be compromised, undermining the investments made by both the Enugu State Government and UNICEF.