The Health Emergency Initiative, HEI, in partnership with CardGoal and other partners has launched the Gift Health Nutrition Programme in Lagos State, marking a major intervention in the fight against rising child malnutrition across the state.
The programme was officially flagged off in Lagos State Health District VI, with stakeholders warning that Nigeria’s malnutrition crisis has reached an alarming level and requires urgent, sustained action.
Executive Director of HEI, Pascal Achunine, described child malnutrition in Nigeria as an “existential threat,” noting that over 50 million Nigerian children are currently malnourished, while 3.5 million suffer from severe acute malnutrition.
More than 400,000 children, he added, remain at risk of death if immediate interventions are not provided.
Achunine highlighted the wide-ranging consequences of malnutrition, including stunted growth, impaired brain development, damaged organs, weakened immunity, and even long-term genetic effects.
“Malnutrition does not only affect a child today, it limits their future and can affect the next generation,” he said. “Over 45 percent of child deaths in Nigeria are linked to malnutrition. The situation is dangerous and unacceptable.”
He explained that HEI’s intervention focuses not only on providing therapeutic meals but also on educating mothers about affordable, locally accessible ready-to-use nutritional foods. The programme also teaches survival strategies and empowers mothers to maintain proper nutrition after the children complete the 90-day recovery phase.
“Our goal is simple, we want these children to stay alive,” Achunine said, adding that the current level of support represents “not up to two percent” of what is needed nationwide.
Delivering the keynote address, Dr. Olufemi Omololu, Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Health District VI, said Nigeria remains the second most affected country globally in cases of severe child malnutrition.
He stated that the Gift Health Nutrition Programme will identify malnourished children and provide them with nutritional supplementation while also strengthening caregivers’ knowledge.
“Most parents will tell you how the economy is, that is why support initiatives like this are crucial,” he said. “This programme focuses on knowledge, empowerment, primary healthcare, and follow-up.”
Dr. Omololu also emphasised the importance of involving men in home nutrition practices, noting that family health is strengthened when both parents understand dietary needs.
The First Lady of Lagos State, Mrs Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, represented by Mrs. Abimbola Odunmbaku, wife of the Chairman of Ojodu LCDA, commended the intervention as a “remarkable programme dedicated to protecting vulnerable children.”
She said the partnership between Cardgoal and HEI represents “the best of humanitarian collaboration,” describing child malnutrition as both devastating and preventable.
“No society can thrive without its children,” she said. “Under Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s leadership, Lagos State continues to prioritise maternal and child health so that no child is left behind.”
Mrs. Sanwo-Olu praised the integration of caregiver nutrition education into the programme, noting that long-term sustainability depends on parents applying the knowledge at home.
“Good nutrition begins in the home,” she said. “Every child deserves the opportunity to grow, learn, and flourish.”
Also, a representative of CardGoal, Stephen Odu, has explained that the organisation partnered with government agencies to roll out its child nutrition intervention, stating that private-sector support is essential to reaching vulnerable communities.
Odu noted that the collaboration is driven by two major reasons, the organisation’s commitment to giving back to the society, and the government’s unmatched access to underserved populations.
“There is something called profit-return,” he said. “You’ve done business in a place, you’ve made money from there, so it’s only right that you give back to the community where you operate.”
He added that while CardGoal is committed to supporting families, it does not have the widespread grassroots reach required to access all vulnerable groups.
On future plans, Odu revealed that CardGoal is already drawing up its programme calendar for 2026, with possibilities for expanded funding and wider community outreach.
“It’s something we are looking at. I can’t give specifics now, but this is not the end. We are planning how to reach more communities next year,” he said.
The Gift Health Nutrition Programme will support malnourished children across 172 wards in 12 LGAs and LCDAs, covering two health districts. More than 250 children will receive a structured 90-day therapeutic nutrition plan, providing “restoration, growth, and a real chance at survival.”