Alimosho Local Government in Lagos State has launched a community-based nutrition programme aimed at tackling rising cases of malnutrition among children aged 0 to 5 years.

Executive Chairman of the council, Johnson Akinpelu, said the initiative is designed as a direct response to one of the most urgent health challenges confronting families in the area: poor nutrition and its long-term impact on child development.

The programme is being implemented through a partnership between the Health Emergency Initiative and the Nigerian Exchange Group, bringing together public-sector leadership and private-sector support to strengthen primary healthcare at the community level.

According to Akinpelu, the intervention will initially target vulnerable children and their caregivers in District I of the local government, with about 120 children expected to benefit directly in the first phase.

The chairman explained that malnutrition continues to undermine child survival, growth, learning capacity and future productivity, warning that the consequences for both families and the wider society can be severe if the problem is not addressed early.

Under the scheme, children will undergo regular nutritional screening to detect undernutrition, stunting or related health concerns at an early stage. Those identified as at risk will receive nutrition support, including age-appropriate food supplements and guidance on balanced diets.

The programme also places strong emphasis on caregiver education. Parents and guardians will be trained on breastfeeding practices, complementary feeding, food hygiene and how to make nutritious meals from affordable, locally available ingredients.

Where more serious medical issues are detected, children will be referred to appropriate health facilities for further management, creating a link between community outreach and formal healthcare services.

Akinpelu said the initiative represents a proactive strategy to prevent malnutrition rather than merely treating its consequences, adding that the council intends to use data from the first phase to expand and refine the programme across other districts.

Health advocates say such community-based interventions are critical in densely populated areas like Alimosho, where rapid urbanisation, poverty and limited access to quality diets have combined to put many young children at risk of poor growth and development.