Improving the management of acute malnutrition

By 2030, the Ministry of Health, together with UNICEF, WFP, and local NGOs, is committed to improving the management of acute malnutrition to reach an 80% coverage rate, by creating advanced care sites, strengthening mobile clinics and improving the quality of care in health facilities.

The rate of acute malnutrition remains high in the country and exceeds the WHO alert threshold. It is essential to improve care, both in terms of detection, referral and quality of treatment. Better coverage will require not only more effective detection, but also improved quality of care, to encourage more children to visit health centres or advanced sites. Despite regional disparities in terms of coverage, screening and awareness-raising actions on good nutritional practices are regularly carried out each year with the support of partners (UNICEF and WFP) through local NGOs, in close collaboration with health structures for the referral and management of malnutrition cases. These actions must be strengthened and standardized at the national level. The new treatment protocol is not yet sufficiently mastered throughout the country, and training and monitoring in the field are essential to improve the quality of care.