ETINAN COUNCIL PARTNERS HELEN KELLER INTERNATIONAL TO COMBAT ACUTE MALNUTRITION IN CHILDREN
The Chairman of Etinan Local Government Council, Hon. Uko Umoh, has reiterated his administration’s readiness to partner individuals and organisations in developing the area.
He stated this in his welcome remarks when the Coordinator of the office of the First Lady, Akwa Ibom State, Lady Helen Eno Obareki, on Monday, October 20, 2025 officially flagged off the Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition (IMAM) Out-Patient Therapeutic Programme (OTP) site at the Primary Health Care Operational Base in Etinan Local Government Area.
Hon Umoh extended his gratitude to Helen Keller International for selecting Etinan Local Government Area as one of the first beneficiaries of their health intervention programme, expressing his readiness to collaborate with organisations that aim to drive development and enhance the living standard of residents.
“Thank you Helen Keller International for the choice of Etinan local government area. You have taken the pressure off me. Etinan is open and safe for investment” he added.
In her remarks, the Coordinator of the office of the First Lady, Akwa Ibom State, Lady Helen Eno Obareki noted that, the IMAM project aligns with the ARISE Agenda of the government of Pastor Umo Eno, which prioritizes maternal and child health as a core component of the state’s development strategy.
She said that the programme also complements the Maternal and Child Healthcare thematic area of the Golden Initiative for All (GIFA), which seeks to ensure that every mother and child receives optimal care from conception to early childhood.
“I consider this event as a powerful declaration that in Akwa Ibom State,
the life and future of every child matters. It underscores the unwavering commitment of the administration of His Excellency, the Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, to prioritize maternal and child health as a non-negotiable component of our development agenda, the ARISE Agenda.
“This initiative aligns with the core mandate of the Maternal and Child
Healthcare thematic area of the Golden Initiative For All, GIFA, which
focuses on ensuring that every mother and child in Akwa Ibom receives optimal care, beginning from conception through early childhood. The fight against malnutrition is not separate from GIFA – it is the core of it,” she said.
The Coordinator of the office of the First Lady lauded Helen Keller International, the Federal and State Ministries of Health, and the Primary Health Care Development Agency for their technical and logistical support, while also commending health workers whom she described as ‘frontline heroes’ for their dedication, urging them to carry out their duties with professionalism and compassion.
She reiterated the commitment of GIFA and the First Lady’s office to the fight against malnutrition, pledging continuous collaboration with partners to ensure that every child in the state grows healthy and well-nourished.
The Deputy Governor, Senator Akon Eyakenyi, represented by Mr Joseph Esidem, stated that the launch of the IMAM Out-Patient Therapeutic Program (OTP) emphasises the government’s commitment to ensuring the health and well-being of children, particularly those in the most vulnerable populations.
“A mal-nurished child will be stunted in physical and mental development. Health care does not begin and end in hospitals, it covers our diet, hygiene and stress management”
In a goodwill message, representative of Centre for Clinical care &Clinical Research In Nigeria, Mr Kunle Adiola described the flag off in Etinan as a light that will be shining in other communities. “Malnutrition is one of the silent threat to the survival of children. Together we can build a healthier Akwa Ibom where every child grows strong and well nourished”.
The representative of the Country Director of Helen Keller International, Ms Delphine Danboyi stated that the IMAM sites in Etinan and Nsit Atai Local Government Areas aim to combat the threats to child survival, provide hope and save the lives of children suffering from acute malnutrition in undeserved communities.
In their separate speeches, representatives from the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (FMoHSW), the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), the Akwa Ibom State Primary Health Care Development Agency (AKSPHCDA), among others, commended the commitment of government, development partners, health workers and community volunteers who drive the process of rescuing malnourished children and enhancing the survival and development chances of vulnerable children.
The event also featured the recognition of Lady Helen Eno Obareki by the Federal and State Ministries of Health as a “Nutrition Champion”, in acknowledgment of her outstanding advocacy and leadership in promoting child and maternal nutrition in the state.
