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Management of Wasting

Wasting or acute malnutrition is a life-threatening condition, increasing the risk of death and serious illness. It occurs as a result of recent rapid weight loss or a failure to gain weight, most often caused by severe nutritional restrictions, a recent bout of illness, inappropriate childcare practices or a combination of these factors. It is characterised by extreme weight loss, resulting in low weight for height, and/or low mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) with or without the presence of bilateral oedema. While global efforts have focused on providing treatment for wasted children, particularly in humanitarian crisis, access to treatment remains unacceptably low, and urgent attention is needed to develop and scale-up solutions for both the treatment and prevention of wasting.

Wasting

Global Thematic Working Group

The Wasting GTWG for Wasting was formed in early 2020.

It currently has 44 members from a wide range of organisations and is jointly chaired by ENN and UNICEF. There are 5 sub-working groups: Prevention, Programming in the absence of products, Updating national guidelines, Costing methodologies and MNPs in the context of Specialised Nutritional Products. 

During the quarter, the Wasting GTWG held two meetings as well as four subgroup meetings (two subgroups met once in the quarter, namely the prevention and costing groups and the subgroup exploring MNPs in the context of Specialised Nutritious Foods (SNFs) met twice.

 

Key Resources

Wasting

Way forward for wasting programming in light of COVID-19, August 2021

This brief is intended for decision makers and implementers who have made adaptations to programmes for child wasting because of COVID-19. It is to guide the decision on the ways forward for wasting programming considering the evolving Covid-19 situation, notably when to resume standard programming as per national guidelines.

Way Forward Wasting & COVID-19

Prevention, Early Detection and Treatment of Wasting in Children 0-59 Months through National Health Systems in the Context of COVID-19

This document serves as a tool for implementing the recommendations reflected in existing WHO and UNICEF guidance on the delivery of services through national health systems for the prevention, early detection and treatment of child wasting in the context of COVID-19. This note reflects broad guidance for all levels of the health system, including community health services that offer prevention, early detection and treatment services for child wasting.

To Guidance

Programming in the absence of nutritional products

This information note has been prepared to outline potential options when RUTF and RUSF are unavailable. It was updated in May 2022 by a sub-group of the Wasting GTWG of the GNC Technical Alliance.

Go to document

Wasting - Additional Resources