Photo Documentation on the Achievements in the Fight against Malnutrition in Ethiopia
“Ending Malnutrition in Ethiopia – A SUCCESS STORY” is the title of a photo documentation produced by the EU and UNICEF. The exhibition and the illustrated book show the progress of reducing malnutrition in Ethiopia (1). In Ethiopia, thanks to international aid, the number of growth retarded children (stunting) under five has halved over the last 25 years. The country thus has the highest decline in sub-Sahara Africa (2).
Stunting is one of the most serious consequences of micronutrient deficiency and often results in not only physical but mental retardation as well since often micronutrients needed for cognitive development like iodine are lacking as well. The share of growth-retarded children is an internationally established marker for the nutritional situation of a country since stunting is a symptom of chronic malnutrition, including micronutrient deficiencies.
The photo documentation aims to be an incentive to continue the successful path. In Ethiopia, five million children under the age of five are still stunted and 1.3 million children were wasted, which means they weigh too little in relation to their size. The EU has now committed another 10 million euros to help in 17 districts in Ethiopia that are particularly affected by malnutrition. It is part of the project “Multi-sectoral interventions to improve nutrition and strengthen resilience”. Together with UNICEF and the FAO, in particular, the nutritional status of children, adolescents, pregnant and nursing women is to be improved.
Read more:
(1) UNICEF Ethiopia. EU and UNICEF launch a photo book on the success story of reducing malnutrition in Ethiopia. Blog vom 25. April 2018, available at https://unicefethiopia.org/2018/04/25/eu-and-unicef-launch-a-photo-book-on-the-success-story-of-reducing-malnutrition-in-ethiopia/
(2) More information to the development of stunting rates and more A. Abdulahi et al. Nutritional Status of Under Five Children in Ethiopia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Ethiop J Health Sci. 2017 Mar; 27(2): 175–188, available at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5440832/