In the slums of Lagos, teenage mothers often face challenges like poverty, limited healthcare access, and inadequate nutrition for their infants. Many struggle to provide essential nourishment, leading to higher risks of malnutrition and health issues for their babies. According to the 2023-24 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), 23% of Nigerian girls aged 15-19 have had children or are currently pregnant, with many of these pregnancies being unwanted.
In the slums of Lagos, teenage mothers face tough conditions-poverty, poor access to healthcare, and no reliable support system. Many of these young girls become pregnant unintentionally, often without partners, and struggle to care for their babies. With high food prices and limited income, they can't afford baby formula, which puts infants at risk of malnutrition, slow growth, and illness. This lack of basic nourishment worsens an already difficult start to life for both mother and child.
This project will provide baby formula to 87 teenage mothers living in Lagos slums (Makoko, Iwaya, Agege/Orile, Ajegunle), helping them feed their babies properly during a critical stage of growth. It will reduce the risk of malnutrition and related health problems, especially for mothers who cannot breastfeed. The support will also include basic guidance on safe feeding, so the young mothers can use the formula correctly and keep their babies healthy.
By providing baby formula and basic feeding support, this project will help reduce infant malnutrition and improve early childhood health among teenage mothers in Lagos slums. Healthier babies are more likely to grow well and thrive in society. With this support, young mothers can regain stability, return to school, rebuild their lives, and possibly become voices in their communities to help prevent teenage pregnancy.
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