Highlights
Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) caseload in 2012 more than doubled expectations with more than 13,000 SAM cases reported in Matam and Diourbel regions only. The 2013 SAM burden is estimated at 63,323 under-five children – with a targeted coverage of 38,968 SAM cases.
In the first month of the year 763 SAM cases have been reported bringing the number of SAM cases to 14,391 cases from the beginning of the response until end of January 2013.
Although partners have made good progress in improving the capacity and quality of the in- patient stabilization centers and out-patient nutritional facilities, funding to keep these units running is currently not forthcoming.
Training of health authorities on the treatment of SAM in the regions of Fatick, Kolda and Tambacounda has taken place in February, with training of 25, 19 and 23 trainers respectively. These trainings are already allowing the medical districts to open some nutritional centers. Training of health post staff will follow suit, allowing to officially open the planned nutritional facilities in these regions.
UNICEF has supported the MoH’s to update the sector’s management and monitoring tools, particularly to reflect malnutrition. The development of the training module and training of trainers took place in February, with cascade trainings to begin progressively in March down to region, district and health facility level.
Funding requirement estimates for the first half of 2013 are at 4,597,000 USD for a target of 38,968 children affected by the nutritional crisis and to preposition supplies for the summer floods. This emergency response plan is currently 19% funded.
