Why Nigeria’s Fight Against Malnutrition Must Start with Frontline Health Workers

Why Nigeria’s Fight Against Malnutrition Must Start with Frontline Health Workers

Nigeria’s struggle with malnutrition is often framed as a problem of food scarcity or funding gaps, yet one critical dimension receives far less attention: the preparedness of the healthcare workers charged with managing malnutrition cases. Across many public health facilities, especially in northern Nigeria, young and dedicated health workers are deployed to stabilization centers without sufficient training in modern nutrition protocols. This reality continues to weaken outcomes and slow progress toward nutrition security.

It was this gap that informed a recent intervention supported by the Cheetahs Policy Institute through its Policy Impact Fellowship, and led by Jennifer Ahmed, one of the Institute’s Policy Impact Fellows. Her project, Building Expertise for Nutrition Security, was implemented between June and July 2025 at Yusuf Dantsoho Memorial Hospital in Kaduna State, with a clear objective: to strengthen the practical capacity of frontline healthcare workers to manage malnutrition using the Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition (IMAM) guidelines.

The project targeted community nutritionists, healthcare students, and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members—groups that often serve as the backbone of service delivery in public health facilities. While these workers play a vital role in managing malnutrition, many lack access to hands-on training and updated clinical guidance. Under Jennifer Ahmed’s leadership, the intervention focused on equipping them with applicable skills rather than abstract theory, ensuring immediate relevance to their daily responsibilities.

Implemented with the approval and technical backing of the Kaduna State Ministry of Health, the training brought together 45 participants, surpassing the original target due to growing interest among healthcare workers. Participants were trained on accurate malnutrition classification, anthropometric measurements, identification of complications, and effective caregiver counseling. The sessions emphasized real-life clinical scenarios, reinforcing learning through demonstrations and role-play.

The impact of the training was evident. Assessments conducted before and after the sessions showed a 75 percent improvement in participants’ understanding of malnutrition management and IMAM protocols. Beyond knowledge gains, the project strengthened clinical practice through the provision of anthropometric equipment to the hospital, improving growth monitoring and diagnosis. Over 80 percent of participants reported increased confidence in counseling caregivers, a skill that is critical to sustaining recovery and preventing relapse.

One of the most notable outcomes of the intervention was its multiplier effect. Several NYSC members who participated in the training have since committed to conducting step-down trainings in their assigned health facilities. This organic spread of knowledge highlights how investing in frontline workers can extend impact far beyond a single location or project cycle.

For Nigeria’s health system, the lessons are clear. Well-targeted, short-term capacity-building initiatives can deliver substantial returns when they are aligned with real system needs and supported by government institutions. Partnerships with state ministries enhance legitimacy and sustainability, while cost-effective interventions ensure that impact is not dependent on large budgets.

For Cheetahs Policy Institute, this project reflects a broader commitment to turning policy into practice. By supporting fellows like Jennifer Ahmed to design and implement evidence-based interventions, the Institute demonstrates how young policy leaders can contribute meaningfully to national development challenges through practical action at the community level.

As Nigeria continues to confront high rates of malnutrition, especially among children, strengthening the skills of healthcare workers must remain a policy priority. Scaling similar initiatives across local government areas, institutionalizing nutrition training for NYSC health workers, and providing regular refresher programs would significantly improve the quality of care delivered across the country.

In the end, nutrition security is not achieved solely through national strategies or donor commitments. It is achieved in hospitals and health centers, by healthcare workers who have the knowledge, tools, and confidence to act. The intervention led by Jennifer Ahmed under the Cheetahs Policy Institute Policy Impact Fellowship offers a compelling example of how strengthening frontline capacity can translate policy ambition into measurable, life-saving impact.