Andrew Amegovu and Timothy Chewere

Abstract

Karamoja region in Uganda is continuously affected by draught, cattle rustling and food insecurity resulting to high malnutrition rates over the past 40 years. In response to the persistent and high malnutrition (Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) of >10%) UN agencies/NGOS have focused on nutrition specific approaches to treat malnutrition. There has been very limited interaction between the nutrition specific and nutrition sensitive programs due to the difference in objectives and targets. As a result, most of the already cured cases from the nutrition specific programs end up relapsing. The result of which is unchanged or higher GAM levels. These current mode of nutrition interventions have not been designed to address the basic (Infrastructure, Education, Access to market), underlying (inadequate access to food, inadequate care for mother and child, insufficient health service and unhealthy environment) and Immediate (inadequate dietary intake and disease) causes of malnutrition (UNICEF 1991). This is reflected in the resource allocation where most of the resources have been allocated for treatment and management of malnutrition through nutrition specific interventions with very little resources allocated to nutrition sensitive interventions which target prevention of malnutrition. Nevertheless, malnutrition still continues to affect the population despite all these interventions. Results showed making nutrition program sensitive is a more sustainable way and where there is a gap in a program implementation mandate should not override. Also data review of the food security and nutrition assessment reports (FSNA) from 2009 to 2017, indicates that GAM rates have persistently been at serious levels (>10%) despite all the continued interventions. Similarly, stunting rates have plateaued above emergency levels (>40%). In order to address the continuously high malnutrition rates there is need of shift nutrition program paradigm from the current treatment based to a more nutrition sensitive approach.

View PDF 2472-1921-C1-002-011