A Father's Promise

Nine-month-old Chinyere sits comfortably in her father's arms, watching the busy Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week activities unfold around her at the Comprehensive Health Centre in Owerri, Imo State. As health workers measure her growth, screen her nutritional status and administer routine immunization, her father, Mr. Uzoma Goodfriend Ebenezer, follows every step closely, asking questions, listening carefully and making sure nothing is missed.

For him, this is exactly where he wants to be.

"I believe my daughter deserves the best possible start in life," he says. "As her father, I have a responsibility to support my wife and make sure we never miss opportunities that will keep our baby healthy."

It is a simple belief, but one that is quietly challenging long-held perceptions about parenting.

Across many communities, taking children to health facilities is still seen as a mother's responsibility. Fathers often remain on the sidelines. But Uzoma sees things differently.

Every clinic visit is a responsibility he shares with his wife.

His involvement does not end when they leave the health facility. At home, he makes sure his wife has the support she needs to focus on breastfeeding, feeding their daughter and caring for her during these crucial early months. By sharing household responsibilities and making time for health appointments, he is helping create the stable, nurturing environment every young child needs.

During the Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week campaign, Chinyere received routine immunization, Mid-Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) screening, growth monitoring and other essential nutrition services. Supported by UNICEF, the Gates Foundation and the Imo State Government, the campaign is helping ensure that every child has access to lifesaving health and nutrition interventions.

Health workers say fathers like Uzoma make a real difference.

When fathers actively participate in their children's care, families are more likely to complete immunization schedules, seek healthcare early, follow recommended nutrition practices and provide consistent care during the first 1,000 days of life, the period that lays the foundation for healthy growth and brain development.

"Children thrive when both parents are actively involved in their care," says Juliet Chiluwe, Chief of UNICEF Field Office, Enugu. "A father's support, from accompanying his family to health services to encouraging good nutrition and responsive caregiving, creates a nurturing environment where children can survive, grow and reach their full potential."

For UNICEF, encouraging fathers to play a more active role is an important part of strengthening family-centered care. With support from the Gates Foundation and the Government of Imo State, essential nutrition commodities, including multiple micronutrient supplements, vitamin A and albendazole deworming tablets, are helping improve the nutrition and health of mothers and young children during the critical first 1,000 days of life.

Ngozi Onuora, Nutrition Specialist at UNICEF Field Office, Enugu, says good nutrition begins at home and requires the support of the entire family.

"The first 1,000 days of a child's life provide a unique window to shape healthy growth and brain development. When fathers support mothers to access nutrition services, practise exclusive breastfeeding, provide appropriate complementary feeding and attend routine growth monitoring, children are more likely to thrive."

As Uzoma carries Chinyere through the health facility, his presence catches the attention of other fathers waiting outside or accompanying their families. Without saying a word, he is sending a powerful message that caring for a child is not only a mother's responsibility. It is a shared one.

For Chinyere, these regular clinic visits are helping lay the foundation for a healthy future.

For her father, they are something more.

They are a promise that he will be there, not only to watch his daughter grow, but to help her thrive from the very beginning.