Adamawa State launches UNICEF-backed First 1,000 Days nutrition project

The Adamawa State government, in partnership with UNICEF and funded by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter‑Day Saints, inaugurated the First 1,000 Days of Life Nutrition Project in Yola. Deputy Governor Kaletapwa Farauta highlighted that the period from conception to a child's second birthday is critical for physical growth, brain development and lifelong health, and that investing in nutrition during these 1,000 days can cut child mortality, improve learning outcomes and build a healthier society.

The programme targets the state's high stunting rate of 48.6% by strengthening nutrition services, promoting exclusive breastfeeding, improving infant and young‑child feeding practices, and enhancing community participation. It aligns with Nigeria’s federal Nutrition 774 Initiative and Adamawa’s universal health coverage agenda, aiming to reduce malnutrition‑related deaths and bolster the primary health‑care system.