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What is Acute Malnutrition?

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DSC_0379Acute malnutrition is a devastating epidemic. Worldwide, some 55 million children under the age of five suffer from acute malnutrition, 19 million of these suffer from the most serious type – severe acute malnutrition. Every year, 5 million children die of malnutrition.

 

The human body needs energy and nutrients to function. If food intake is inadequate, the body begins to break down body fat and muscle, the metabolism begins to slow down, thermal regulation is disrupted, the immune system is weakened, and kidney function is impaired.

Decreased food consumption, increased energy expenditure, and illness result in a poor nutritional state known as malnutrition (or undernutrition). Malnutrition is associated with increased illness and death, reduced educational achievements, productivity and economic capacity. Poverty, inequality, and malnutrition are often passed from one generation to the next.  Malnutrition manifests itself in the form of micronutrient deficiencies, stunting (also known as chronic malnutrition), and/or acute malnutrition. Acute malnutrition is caused by a decrease in food consumption and/or illness resulting in sudden weight loss or oedema.


Learn more about the types of acute malnutrition
 

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Develops and applies the mission’s human resources policy and is responsible for all local staff management matters such as salary policies, recruitment and evaluations, etc..

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Positions the missions overall strategy, coordinates programme implementation, ensures continuity of finance, organizes allocation of available resources and supervises the missions staff.

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Nutrition & Health

Runs supplementary feeding centers and implementing nutrition surveys, designing nutrition programmes for supplementary or therapeutic feeding centers, managing and training national staff, collecting information on malnutrition and food security.

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Distributes food supplies and equipment to populations in need and provides them with the resources they require to produce their own food. Provides training in modern agricultural techniques in order to boost the capacities of the populations concerned.

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Ensures emergency access to safe drinking water and overall sanitation. Finds and taps underground and ground level water sources (boreholes and wells, water distribution networks).

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Participates in drawing up the missions’ strategy, makes sure that all programmes implemented respect ACFs codes and standards and ensures the safety and security of all staff and missions assets.

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