Stunting is one of public health burdens worldwide that cause death and huge economic loss especially in most developing countries.
According to the report by UNICEF 2015, every year, stunting causes the death of one million children around the world.
Stunting is a manifestation of severe, irreversible physical, physiological and cognitive damage caused by chronic malnutrition during a child’s first 1,000 days or from the beginning of pregnancy until the age of two years. And stunted children are too short for their age; and for the children who survive it in infancy and early childhood causes long term effects, including poor cognition and educational performance, diminished physical development, poor health, lost productivity and low adult wages, the report underscored.
Low-income and lower-middle-income countries account for almost all (91 percent) stunted children worldwide whereas more than one in three exists in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Even if the prevalence of stunting is decreasing across the globe; the challenge remains a major health burden in Africa, including Ethiopia. To this end, Ethiopia, is working untiringly by joining hands with partners and devising various strategies.
Recently, the Government of Ethiopia, in collaboration with partners launched a 30 million USD multi-sectorial nutrition program with the aim to reduce maternal malnutrition, child wasting and stunting.
Speaking at the forum organized by Ministry of Health to discuss the implementation process of the program along with partners and stakeholders, Maternal and Child Health and Nutrition Director with the Ministry Dr. Meseret Zelalem said that, the program would be implemented in the coming 10 years in selected woredas across the country.
The program aligns with the Ethiopian government’s commitment to reducing stunting and ending child malnutrition in the East African country.
Over the past two decades, Ethiopia has shown remarkable reduction in the prevalence of stunting. It was enabled to reduce the burden from 58 percent in 2000 to 37 percent in 2020. However, according to a mid-term population and health survey conducted two years ago, 5.8 million children under the age of five are still suffering from stunting; and more than 1.2 million children are affected by wasting. As the study shows, the magnitude of the burden compared with other developing countries is severe, she added.
The government, understanding the scope and depth of the burden, and to address the country’s food and nutrition security challenges is implementing various activities through adopting the Food and Nutrition Policy Strategy in 2019; and by mobilizing stakeholders and partners.
The Strategy is vital to improve the nutritional status of pregnant and lactating mothers, ensure their health thereby to help them be healthy during pregnancy and childbirth, as well as to generate a citizen who can play role in nation’s economic growth and prosperity by preventing children from acute malnutrition, stunning and wasting.
“The Government of Ethiopia has strong commitment to accelerate the reduction of stunting and ending child malnutrition by 2030 as a key strategy for human capital development and inclusive economic development,” the Director remarked.
“Improving maternal nutrition is important to ensure women’s health and achieve better pregnancy and birth outcomes. Equally, the prevention of wasting and stunting will promote optimal growth for children to thrive in a productive workforce. UNICEF is hereby committed to support the Government of Ethiopia and mobilize the required funding for this program,” said Kitka Goyol, OIC, and UNICEF Deputy Representative, said in a Joint Press Release issued last Friday.
Over the five years, the program will reach at least one million pregnant women and three million children with vital health and nutrition services. It is also expected to promote long-term improvements to the population’s nutrition as well as socio-economic indicators by making Ethiopia’s health and food systems more resilient and encouraging healthier, more productive communities, she added.
The initiative is also expected to promote long-term improvements to the populations’ nutrition as well as socio-economic indicators by making Ethiopia’s health and food systems more resilient and encouraging healthier, more productive communities.
The newly launched program entitled, ‘Addressing Maternal Malnutrition, Child Wasting and Stunting in Ethiopia’ and funded by the Power of Nutrition, Eleanor Crook Foundation, The END Fund and the Rotary International, will be implemented through a partnership agreement between the Ministry of Health, UNICEF and Action Against Hunger, it was learnt.
BY STAFF REPORTER
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD TUESDAY 12 JULY 2022
