Child/Adolescent Nutrition Programme to Break the Vicious Cycle of Malnutrition

The fight against malnutrition in Madagascar has always focused on children under the age of 5 as part of the first 1000 days of life, ensuring particularly good nutrition for future mothers and/or parents. However, it is also important to note the adolescence period, which is a window of opportunity to promote adequate nutrition practices, support catch-up growth and prevent malnutrition.

Intervention 4 of the 2022-2026 National Multisectoral Action Plan for Nutrition of the health system provides for the mobilization of young people in school and outside of school so that the vicious circle of malnutrition is broken and the steps of prevention and management are almost complete.

Taking into account the systemic approach adopted by the new national nutrition policy, efforts to engage youth were brought together and the various partner entities came together to focus on a nutrition programme for children and adolescents.

Thus, under the leadership of the National Office of Nutrition, with the technical and financial support of UNICEF, through the support of the Swiss National Committee, an advocacy undertaken in Amboasary was the opportunity to involve various regional directorates of the Androy and Anosy regions, in the activities to be implemented for the next 2 years for an effective fight against malnutrition. Representatives of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Ministry of National Education, the Ministry of Health, Scouts and other structures supporting local youth were able to define guidelines for the implementation of the Nutrition programme for children and adolescents through a clear action plan for 2023 and 2024.  The main working tool which is a nutrition curriculum for children and adolescents has been initiated; this includes activities such as nutrition education at school level, nutrition training for young people who do not have access to the school environment through Scouts and Young Peer Educators, and the development of communication tools to support the fight against malnutrition.

At this stage, the initial steps – essential for the implementation of the programme – are successfully completed. The positive and lasting impact of interventions towards change is expected for the 400,000 children in the districts most affected by drought in Southern Madagascar, affected by the programme.