The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with UNICEF and the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation, has kickstarted the Egg Powder Initiative for Children (EPIC) in a bold move to combat persistent child malnutrition in Uganda.
The initiative, dubbed One Egg a Day, targets children aged 6 to 23 months—the age group most vulnerable to malnutrition, particularly stunting, wasting, and underweight.
Namukose Samalie ,Assistant Commissioner Health Services/Nutrition at the Ministry of Health said that EPIC aims to improve dietary quality by supplementing children’s meals with egg powder, a high-protein animal source food rich in essential amino acids crucial for growth and development.
According to national health data and the Demographic Health Survey used as a reference, Uganda continues to experience high levels of stunting.
“While the national stunting rate dropped from 29% in 2016 to 26% in 2022, experts say the reduction is not significant in absolute numbers. Over 80% of children in this age range do not meet the minimum acceptable diet standards,” said, Laura Ahumuza Turinawe, Senior Nutritionist, Ministry of Health.
“Children may have enough food to feel full, but not the right kind of food,” a Ministry official explained. “EPIC focuses on quality, not just quantity,”She noted.
To address this, egg powder—equivalent to one egg per serving—will be distributed free of charge for the first six months in households with children under two years, starting in Tooro region, which reports the highest stunting rates.
Beyond food distribution, EPIC includes nutrition education, health worker training, and use of visual aids like the complementary feeding bowl, which promotes balanced meals and hygiene practices.
Studies indicate that daily egg consumption can reduce stunting by 47% and underweight cases by 74%. The government hopes EPIC will lay the foundation for a healthier, stronger generation.