Back To Resource Library

Community-Based Management of Acute Malnutrition

Resource Type:
Documents

Presenter: Tina Lloren, Regional Nutrition Advisor, Save the Children

Content: In recent years, many countries have adopted an exciting new strategy for addressing acute malnutrition. The approach, called community-based management of acute malnutrition (CMAM), grew out of the advent of nut-based, ready-to-use therapeutic foods (such as Plumpy’nut®). CMAM involves both community and clinical interventions. It has had great success in reducing deaths, improving how quickly sick children recover, improving the coverage of services, and even helping to identify children with HIV.

Discussion: Structured as a learning event, the presenter delivered an overview of the state-of-the-art protocols for community-based management of acute malnutrition and discussed the benefits of this approach versus previous approaches with the participants. Participants then divided into two teams and challenged to answer key questions about the CMAM approach. A software program that spins a graphic of a wheel was used to determine the point value of each correct answer.

 

The Way Forward: Participants identified six recommendations for this topic:

Processes

  • More guidance and research necessary on how to treat moderate acute malnutrition-is CSB appropriate?
  • More research on the possibility of supporting local production of RUTF and/or supplementing Plumpy Nut using Title II Commodities

Donor Policy and Practice

  • Donors should lobby with governments to adopt this approach
  • FFP/USAID should drop weight-for-height and use MUAC
  • Encourage more local production of ready to use foods by funding local initiatives
  • Since FFP is adding RUTF to its commodity list, consensus is necessary on whether it is appropriate for Title II development programs to use RUTF or only Emergency Programs
  • Assist governments with better procurement policies and practices to procure more with the same resources. In South Africa USAID was able to increase by four-fold the government purchase of ARVs just by helping them with procurement policies and practices