Somalia launches first national nutrition survey since 2009
Nutritional status of women and children improving but more needs to be done
Mogadishu, Somalia 25 August 2020 – The Micronutrient Survey launched by Federal Ministry of Health and UNICEF today shines a spotlight on the nutrition status of women and children in Somalia.
According to the survey, the nutrition status of women and children has improved during the past decade. Nine in ten infants are breastfed and the prevalence of both stunting and wasting has decreased.
“Completing the micronutrient survey is an accomplishment that we should all be proud of. It shows our unwavering commitment to the women and children of Somalia. But while we celebrate the good progress, let us remember that the fight against malnutrition in Somalia is not yet over,” said the Acting Minister of Health H.E Dr Fawziya Abikar.
The survey results indicate that good nutrition is still out of reach for millions of Somali children under the age of five. While many babies are breastfed, only a third of them are exclusively breastfed for six months. This places them at greater risk of diarrhea and malnutrition. Almost one in five children show signs of chronic malnutrition and one in ten are acutely malnourished. These deadly conditions curtail children’s physical and brain development. Vitamin A deficiency affects a third of children, exposing them to infections and weakening their immune systems. Iron deficiency anaemia, impacting more than a quarter of all children, hinders their ability to learn.
The COVID-19 pandemic is exasperating the situation further and putting vulnerable lives at risk. The stretched healthcare systems, interrupted food systems and loss of income inhibit many children and women from gaining access to nutritious diets and essential nutrition services.
“The micronutrient survey has provided us with invaluable data on the nutritional status of Somali women and children,” said UNICEF Somalia Representative Werner Schultink. “The results of this study will help chart the way forward so that we can invest in long-term and effective strategies to ensure children can reach their full potential.”
The survey calls for interventions to improve women’s nutrition before and during pregnancy, actions to support breastfeeding from the first hour of life, interventions to improve infant and young child feeding practices to increase dietary diversity and improve vitamin and minerals intake, and programmes to provide nutrition supplements, information and food.
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About the survey
Five geographic areas and a sixth group, including internally displaced people across the country, made up the six strata of the study. The data was collected between December 2018 and July 2019. Information from blood samples was gathered to check for vitamin and mineral deficiencies including iron, folate, vitamin B12, zinc and vitamin A. Children’s growth was assessed and thinness, overweight and obesity were measured in women. Malaria in women and children and the iodine content of water and salt was also examined.
About UNICEF
UNICEF promotes the rights and wellbeing of every child, in everything we do. Together with our partners, we work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere.
UNICEF has been working in Somalia since 1972 when its first office opened in Mogadishu. Today UNICEF has over 300 staff working in Mogadishu, Baidoa, Dollow, Garowe, Hargeisa and also Nairobi, Kenya. Together with 200 international and national NGOs and community-based organizations, UNICEF delivers services in Health, Nutrition, WASH, Education and Child Protection, and responds to emergencies and supports peace-building and development.
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About Ministry of Health
The Ministry ensures the provision of quality essential health and nutrition services for all people in Somalia, with a focus on women, children and other vulnerable groups. It strengthens national and local capacity to deliver evidence-based and cost-effective services. For more information, visit: https://moh.gov.so/en.
