01 Feb Nutrition
ACEPO’s main objective is to advocate for integrated interventions that support the improvement of the nutrition status of mothers and children of South Sudan. UNICEF reports that Acute malnutrition remains high in South Sudan with 2.2 million children and women in need of treatment.
The situation deteriorates in the lean season between March and June. High levels of food insecurity leave too many children hungry and are faced with lifelong challenges due to poor nutrition. The food they have access to often doesn’t contain all the essential nutrients needed to help them grow and develop. Frequent diarrhea, due to poor access to clean water and sanitation, further aggravates the situation. The majority of the population live far from a health facility, making early detection and treatment of malnutrition challenging.
Without scaled up and sustained efforts to address malnutrition in South Sudan, the country’s long-term development will be seriously affected. Strategic planning is key to achieving good nutritional status in the country.
ACEPO’s endeavors to support case identification, carry out nutrition screening campaigns and work closely with families, caregivers and nutrition personnel to provide life saving treatment, for patients with severe malnutrition, and those in need of specialist care are referred to their nearest stabilization centres. ACEPO supports communities to increase food production for the long term