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

1. The last two rounds of the NDHS (2006/2007 and 2013) showed an annual reduction in stunting of 0.88 percentage points. The projected prevalence of stunting in 2020 based on the most recent observed rate of reduction is 17.5%. Based on available data, the impact commitment on child stunting was achieved.

2. The country has increased and sustained treatment of severe acute malnutrition. The last two rounds of the NDHS (2006/2007 and 2013) showed an annual increase in exclusive breastfeeding among infants 0-5 months of age of 4.03 percentage points per year. The projected percentage of exclusive breastfeeding in 2020 based on the most recent observed rate is 76.7%. Based on available data, the impact commitment on exclusive breastfeeding and treatment of acute malnutrition was achieved.

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

1. Implementation of effective nutrition interventions is evident from the health information system. Pregnant women are receiving nutritional counseling and supplementation, shown by the percentage of newborns initiating breastfeeding and the percentage of postpartum women receiving vitamin A sustained at greater than 80% and 90% respectively. For young children, vitamin A supplementation has been sustained at close to 100% for children 6-11 months of age.

2. Namibia has allocated substantial resources to social protection interventions, including food aid and grants, that contribute significantly to improving nutrition. In addition, the government fully funds iron folic acid supplementation of pregnant women, deworming, and zinc supplementation for treatment of diarrhea. The private sector is contributing to nutrition through fortification of salt with iodine, and wheat and maize with multiple micronutrients; and the country continues to benefit from external resources (primarily through emergency fundraising). The commitment to reach more pregnant women and children and to mobilize resources has been honored. Yet, there is more to be done and efforts to scale up needed interventions continue in the country.