EU and UNICEF partner to prevent malnutrition

Kathmandu, July 2

The European Union and UNICEF have expanded their partnership on nutrition to prevent malnutrition in children due to the socio-economic impact of the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.

“The socio-economic impact of the COVID-19 crisis has led to many vulnerable families across Nepal, being pushed into deeper poverty and has resulted in more children becoming malnourished,” they said in a joint statement on Thursday.

Furthermore, with Female Community Health Volunteers no longer being able to regularly visit families to monitor the nutrition and health status of babies, young children and mothers in the COVID- 19 physical distancing context, this has also reduced families’ access to health services. 

The additional EU contribution of 250,000 euros to the existing joint ‘Partnership for Improved Nutrition’ will support the 'Family MUAC' intervention and empower parents and caretakers to themselves monitor the health of their children.

This contribution will support new interventions enabling parents and caregivers to assess the nutritional situation of their children using a mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) tape in 308 local governments, across 30 districts.

“This will facilitate the early detection and referral of children with acute malnutrition to the nearest Outpatient Therapeutic Care Centres and Nutrition Rehabilitation Centres, while reducing the exposure of Female Community Health Volunteers and the community to the virus,” said the donors.

The existing Multi-Sector Nutrition Plan (MSNP) volunteers, based in all local governments, will facilitate this new intervention and the contribution will also provide essential supplies such as ready-to-use therapeutic food.

“Through increasing its financial support, the EU wants to send a strong signal to Nepal: the EU is and will be by your side to leave malnutrition behind,” said Veronica Cody, EU Ambassador to Nepal.

​Likewise, Elke Wisch, UNICEF Representative to Nepal said that the social and economic loss for Nepal resulting from the deterioration in children’s nutrition status would be felt long after the COVID-19 crisis is over.

Since 2016, the European Union and UNICEF have been supporting the Government of Nepal to scale up the Multi-Sector Nutrition Plan across the 30 districts that have a high prevalence of maternal and child malnutrition.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 3 July 2020.