Key resultsUNICEF is playing a critical role in the nutrition sector, supporting both institutional improvements and providing technical, financial and material assistance to government and non-government partners. UNICEF provided assistance to some 180 specialist feeding centres across Sudan to support the treatment of nearly 45,000 children suffering from severe malnutrition. This support including supplies of thereapeutic food and milk, as well as training of more than 600 health workers, and monitoring and surveillance activities. Nearly 684,000 children and more than 382,000 women were provided with iodised oil capsules, as part of efforts to prevent iodine deficiency disorders. Vitamin A supplementation efforts supported by UNICEF ensured that some 6.6 million children received vitamin A in 2008, along with nearly 186,000 mothers of new-born children. More than 390,000 pregnant women also received iron and folic acid supplements, with the support of UNICEF. In nine locations across the north of Sudan, UNICEF supported training of local health staff as part of a Baby-Friendy Hospital Initiative, with one hospital receiving baby-friendly certification during 2008. Opportunities provided by World Breastfeeding Week, held in August, and the new Sudan Accelerated Child Survival Initiative also enabled a strategic focus on providing health and nutrition information to mothers about the importance of exclusing breastfeeding and other caring practices.
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