Save the Children urban nutrition report reveals stunting reduction in Ethiopian cities

The Urban Nutrition Status Assessment carried out by Save the Children in three cities of Ethiopia -Addis Ababa, Dessie and Dire Dawa - was disseminated on 11th Augusts, 2015 in Addis Ababa.

The main findings of the assessment revealed that stunting, which is low height-for-age, has reduced by 40%, from 42.3% in 2000 to 24.3% in 2014. On the other hand, wasting, which is low weight-for-height, has risen from 6% to 8% in 2014.  

The finding also indicated although essential food items are available in the local markets food expenditure constituted more than half of the total household expenses in more than two thirds of households across the three cities. .

Dairy products, fruits and vegetables are identified as the most costly food items. The assessment also indicated that breastfeeding has significantly reduced household cost and contributes to the child’s intake of vitamins A, C, B12 and calcium.

Concerning the costs of food items, the assessment indicated that “food habits” diet are approximately 5-10 times more expensive than energy only diet and the annual cost of ‘food habits’ diet was shown to be more than five times the annual total expenditure of poor and very poor households.

In his opening remarks at the dissemination workshop, Carlos Diaz, Deputy Country Director of Save the Children in Ethiopia, said Ethiopia has several initiatives including the National Nutrition Program and the Accelerated Stunting Reduction Strategy which can help reduce malnutrition.

Diaz added that despite the positive developments on improving children’s nutritional status, there is a need for coordinated efforts to tackle the challenges as 40% of Ethiopian children under five were stunted, 25% underweight and 9% wasted in 2014. Health and Nutrition Team Leader at Save the Children, Dr. Million Shibeshi, also said that in addition to generating evidence and working with policy makers and other key stakeholders, Save the Children has identified and prioritized urban under nutrition as a key strategic focus for the next strategic period of 2016-2018.

Over 60 representatives of donor organizations, different government ministries and offices, civil societies, consumer associations, partners and the media attended the dissemination event.

The attendants actively participated during the discussion session raising their feedbacks on the survey and its findings