WHO Introduces New Guideline To Address Malnutrition in children

With the release of its new guideline on the prevention and management of wasting and nutritional oedema (acute malnutrition), the World Health Organization (WHO) is furthering the worldwide fight against acute malnutrition in children under the age of five. This landmark is an important response to the ongoing global challenge of acute malnutrition, which affects millions of children worldwide.In 2015, the world committed to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including the ambitious target of eliminating malnutrition in all of its forms by 2030. However, despite these commitments, the proportion of children with acute malnutrition has persisted at a worrying level, affecting an estimated 45 million children under five worldwide in 2022, as per pharmabiz.Approximately 7.3 million children will be treated for severe acute malnutrition (SAM) by 2022. Despite greater treatment coverage, children with SAM in many of the worst-affected nations continue to lack access to the complete range of care required for recovery.The Global Action Plan (GAP) on Child Waste recognizes the need for revised normative advice to help countries avoid and manage acute malnutrition. WHO responded to this call to action by developing a comprehensive guideline that includes evidence-based recommendations and good practice statements, as well as implementation advice and resources.“This guideline helps to support countries to prevent and manage acute malnutrition with a specific emphasis on the continuum of care to deliver the best services possible for children and their families.” said Dr Tedros. “We are calling for more integration of nutrition services into health systems and the strengthening of those health systems.  This is a more comprehensive approach to address the complex issue of acute malnutrition in children than ever before."