Child malnutrition in Ethiopia has dropped 20 percent in 16 years

During a workshop in July 2017, UNICEF announced recent results stating that Ethiopia has reduced the rate of child malnutrition for children aged 6 to 23 months by 20 percent in sixteen years. The results, dropping from 58 percent in 2000 to 38 percent in 2016, represent significant progress in the fight against malnutrition for the nation.

July 25, 2017 - Last update: February 10, 2023

Xinhua/Michael Tewelde

The revelation was made by UNICEF Ethiopia Representative Siddig Ibrahim during a three-day consultative workshop on complementary foods and feeding practices. According to him, Ethiopia is committed to further reducing stunting among children, which is a priority to ensure the well-being of children and sustained economic growth.

As these periods are crucial for the healthy growth of children, the government has been engaged in community mobilisation works through health and agriculture extension programs to reduce child malnutrition.”

Dr Ephrem Tekle, Director of Maternal and Child Health at the Ministry of Health.

Dr Ephrem Tekle, Director of Maternal and Child Health at the Ministry of Health, pointed out that monthly child malnutrition monitoring program and feeding children suffering from stunting is also one of the strategies that have been implemented to improve the complementary feeding practice throughout the country. He said that even though the country has attained results in feeding practices and complementary foods for children from 6-23 months, progress has so far been slow. According to Dr Ephrem, lack of coherence between the government and the partnership has partially contributed to lower results in improving children’s health.

Appreciating Ethiopia’s impressive gains, participants called for integrated efforts to address the root causes of under nutrition and an action plan is expected to be developed after the three-day workshop to harmonise the implementation of nutrition programs in Ethiopia.