MALNUTRITION: Chad

A woman and her children in Chad where efforts are being made to tackle soaring malnutrition

24 September 2010 – The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is dramatically expanding its programme of assistance in Chad after a nutrition survey revealed that up to one quarter of children aged under five may be suffering acute malnutrition.
The survey, conducted by UNICEF with Chad’s health ministry, revealed acute malnutrition rates ranging from 15.2 to 24.9 per cent in six regions within the country’s Sahelian belt. The emergency threshold set by the World Health Organization (WHO) is 15 per cent.
“We have been responding to a nutritional crisis which has been threatening the lives and well being of children since the beginning of the year,” said Marzio Babille, UNICEF’s representative in Chad. “But these latest figures prove that families have been experiencing a severe reduction in their ability to cope and fend for themselves.”
Historically, the Sahel belt of Chad is often affected by prolonged periods of food insecurity resulting in poor health and nutrition indicators for children and women. During the 2009-2010 agricultural season, rainfall was inadequate both in quantity and in geographical distribution. This led to a severe drop in harvest and livestock production, including a 34 per cent fall in cereal production.
In addition, the region has increasingly suffered from such consequences of climate change as deteriorating rainfall levels – as well as from rising food prices and the increased migration of labour. This situation, which leaves children and women more vulnerable, is exacerbated by a weak health system, low prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding, poor access to safe drinking water, and recurrent outbreaks of such diseases as measles and meningitis.
Meeting these challenges is a staggering undertaking, requiring significant international support.
“UNICEF, Government and partners are scaling up interventions and intensifying efforts in these regions with the aim of supporting 50,000 of the most vulnerable children,” said Dr. Babille.
“To do this, we appeal to donors to make up the $8 million shortfall that exists in the multi-sector emergency appeal… for $19 million made earlier this year,” he said. Areas covered by that appeal include interventions in the fields of health and nutrition, water supply, sanitation and hygiene, and HIV/AIDS.
The UNICEF nutrition survey addresses the situation in these six regions of Chad: Lac, Hadjer-Lamis, Batha, Guera, Ouaddai and Wadi-Fira. It was carried out in partnership with World Food Programme (WFP) and funded by the European Commission for Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection.
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=36138&Cr=chad&Cr1=