Nutrition
Support national and regional authorities to improve nutrition status of the most vulnerable
Challenges
Stunting is a major public health and development concern in Madagascar
5th worst affected country in the world with 46% of children under the age of 5 (approximately 2 million children) affected by some form of malnutrition, especially in rural areas.
46% of infants under 6 months are not exclusively breastfed.
Stunting has a permanent impact on physical growth and intellectual development.
Each year severe acute malnutrition affects more than 8 per cent of children under 5, particularly in the south.
By 2024, UNICEF will work with partners to :
Increase access to effective nutrition services and essential supplies.
Improve children’s and mother diet and feeding practices.
Prioritize making food nutritious, affordable and locally produced.
Improve multisectoral integration and coordination with a focus on nurturing care at household level including health, water, sanitation and hygiene and violence prevention.
Anticipate and respond timely to nutritional crises
Key results
- Support the Government to develop the 3rd National Nutrition Action Plan
- Cost estimation of the investment needed to reduce chronic malnutrition in Madagascar completed in 2017 has resulted in improved national nutrition budgeting and certain donors investments for reinforcing specific nutrition interventions
- 3,6 million children between 6 and 59 months benefit twice a year from vitamin A supplements and deworming during Mother-Child Health Weeks.
- 2,15 million children between 6 and 59 months screened for acute malnutrition; severe cases referred to appropriate health services
- 75,000 children under 5 years treated for severe acute malnutrition since 2015, 50,000 of which were emergency cases
- Implementation of a nutrition surveillance system in regions vulnerable to nutritional crises, including mass screening and mobile services for the most vulnerable to provide more equitable access to services