Infant and young child nutrition: situation analysis and prospects in the African Region: report of the Regional Director

Abstract

1. Malnutrition remains one of the most frequent causes and determinants of morbidity and mortality in children worldwide. More than one-third of under-five children are malnourished - they are stunted, wasted or deficient in iodine, vitaminA or iron. 2. In the face of this challenging global and regional situation, WHO and UNICEF decided to undertake a global consultation on infant and young child nutrition. This initiative that started in March 2000 in Geneva will end in 2002 with the adoption of a global strategy on infant and young child nutrition for the decade. This document is a contribution of the Regional Committee for Africa to the ongoing reflections on the initiative. 3. The situation of infant and young child nutrition in Africa is worsened by poverty, natural disasters, wars, socio-political upheavals and massive population displacements. 4. Protein-energy malnutrition is increasing on the African continent whereas it is decreasing in other regions of the world. Each year, micro-nutrient deficiencies take a heavy toll on infants and young children. The risk of HIV/AIDS transmission through breast-feeding is creating additional problems in poor countries with a high prevalence of HIV infection. 5. The African Region could take the opportunity offered by the drawing up of the global strategy to assess progress made in the area of infant and young child feeding and adapt national nutrition programmes to the orientations given in this new strategy.