Namibia

London 2013

1. Reduce the percent of stunted under-5 children from 29% to 20% by 2016.

2. Save the lives of 26,000 children under 5 by reducing stunting, increasing breastfeeding to 50%, and increasing treatment of severe acute malnutrition.

Reported progress

• Through growth monitoring and promotion, screened 106,823 children under five for underweight, 94,753 for wasting and 99,556 for stunting, out of 334,696 children under five years of age.

• Monitored pregnant women for anaemia and 6.8% (994 out of 11,338) women were found to have had haemoglobin levels below 10g/dl.

• Monitored pregnant women screened for iron deficiency and DHIS2 indicated that only 77.8% (11,338 out of 14,573) women were screened for iron deficiency at their first ANC visit.

• Monitored Birth Weight at health institutions through the DHIS2 database system and found that 10.2% (1405 babies out of 13,801 live births) had low birth weight.

• Monitored the Malnutrition Case Fatality at health facilities and found that there were 40 deaths (11.3%) out of 355 malnutrition cases reported.

CHALLENGE

• No updated population-based statistics available.

• Continuation of essential health and nutrition services affected by COVID-19 pandemic.

London 2013

1. Reach all pregnant women and children under 5 with effective nutrition interventions.

2. Mobilize internal as well as external resources to support nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive interventions.

Reported progress

• The Food and Nutrition Security Policy Implementation Action Plan are implemented through the establishment of six Food and Nutrition Security Technical Working Groups focusing on food security, advocacy, research, nutrition, coordination and food systems. These working groups meet quarterly to monitor the implementation of the nutrition specific and nutrition sensitive actions.

• A total of 193 community health workers were trained on the Nutrition Task Shifting on ORS/Zinc Co-packaging to prevent and treat diarrhea and provide vitamin A supplementation and diagnose severe acute malnutrition.

• The Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative 20-hour training course of WHO/UNICEF was adapted and 29 health workers from maternity wards throughout the country were trained.

• About 190 community health workers from Ohangwena, Omusati, Oshikoto and Khomas Regions were trained on infant and young child feeding.

• Brochures and flip charts with key maternal, infant and young child nutrition messages were printed and disseminated to health and community workers to strengthen nutrition counseling.

CHALLENGE:

• Lack of financial and human resources as all diverted to manage COVID-19.