Nutrition situation
Under five stunting (%)
29.5
Under five overweight (%)
4.5
Anaemia in women 15-49 years (%)
48
Under five wasting (%)
5.4
Low birth weight (%)
14.4
0 to 5-month-old exclusive breastfeeding (%)
54.1
Adolescent overweight (%)
Male: 5.9
/ Female: 14.7
Adult overweight (%)
Male: 15.9
/ Female: 23.3
Adult obesity (%)
Male: 4
/ Female: 13.9
Adult diabetes (%)
Male: 7.1
/ Female: 6.6
COVID-19 snapshot
A Food Assistance and Nutrition pillar was formed in the Office of the Vice President. Messages were rolled out to all districts on nutrition, immunity and the fight against COVID-19, with support given to community radio and TV stations to produce and air interactive content.
Institutional transformations 2019-2020
Bringing people together into a shared space for action
Partners supported the mainstreaming of nutrition and food security interventions into district plans. A workshop was held to inform district council nutrition focal points about the new Multisectoral Strategic Plan to Reduce Malnutrition for 2019–2025. A coordination meeting was held with all networks and Irish Aid to plan the visit of the SUN Movement Coordinator and the 2020 SUN National Nutrition Fair. The Fair was launched by His Excellency the Vice President and the SUN Movement Coordinator.Ensuring a coherent policy and legal framework
Parliament enacted a Code on Breastmilk Substitutes and held consultative meetings with relevant ministries, departments and agencies of Government (including Ministries of Social Welfare, Gender and Children’s Affairs, Information, Trade and Industry, Basic and Secondary Education and the Attorney General’s Office) on the Code.Aligning actions around common results
2019–2020 has seen more social mobilisation, advocacy and behaviour change communication around national priorities. District development officers have been encouraged to align district development plans with the Multisectoral Strategic Plan to reduce Malnutrition. Programmes on breastfeeding and infant and young child feeding practices have been scaled up, and training on key messages, promoting good nutrition practices and reporting on district action plan implementation have been undertaken.Financial tracking and resource mobilisation
The economic, development and human impacts of malnutrition – and how to improve it – has been better communicated. However, little resource mobilisation took place in the reporting period, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.2020-2021 Priorities
- Mobilising, advocating and communicating for impact using data from the SUN/ REACH mapping tool.
- Partnering with parliamentarians and mayors/ chairpersons of city councils to ensure that malnutrition and related issues remain high on the new Government’s agenda.
- Supporting the enactment of new nutritionrelated policies and establishing regulations to promote proper food labelling.
- Establishing ”SUN school clubs“.
- Conducting annual nutrition budget workshops and strengthening coordination meetings.
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