Our dedicated Health and Nutrition thematic sector is committed to ensuring an Ethiopia where no child dies from preventable causes before their 5th birthday. With a dual mandate, we operate in both humanitarian and development contexts, implementing transformative health and nutrition projects.
In the realm of health, Ethiopia has made significant strides. The Under 5 Mortality Rate (U5MR) has reduced from 123 per 1000 live births in 2005 to 59 in 2019. The Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) also saw a decrease from 77 to 47 during the same period. Although there was a slight increase in Neonatal Mortality from 29 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2016 to 33 in 2019, overall, there's been a 15% reduction over the past 14 years.
Ethiopia achieved polio-free status in 2017, and maternal and neonatal tetanus have been eliminated. Despite these successes, challenges persist, with a considerable gap in reaching every child. In 2022 alone, an estimated 1,229,971 zero-dose children highlighted the need for continued efforts.
Nutrition Challenges and Initiatives:
Undernutrition remains a significant concern, contributing to 45% of all child deaths. Fetal growth restriction, stunting, wasting, micro-nutrient deficiencies, and suboptimal breastfeeding are key contributors. Save the Children's interventions address these challenges, with 39% of children under five remaining stunted, 22% underweight, and 11% wasted.
Anemia is a prevalent secondary cause of maternal death, and folate deficiency poses risks for maternal morbidity, low birth weight, and neural-tube defects.
Our initiatives and programs focus on improving child survival and implementing integrated primary health care systems, even in remote areas. From iCCM to saving newborn lives, our efforts span proof of concept to scaling up high-impact interventions. In humanitarian contexts, we implement effective mobile health and nutrition interventions, reaching mothers and children in hard-to-reach areas.
As a prominent partner in the Expanded Program of Immunization (EPI), Save the Children engages in policy-level undertakings and ground-level implementations, contributing to significant successes in reducing under-five mortality. Currently, we are implementing a GAVI and GSK funded Immunization project targeting priority regions with a higher number of zero-dose and underimmunized children.
Save the Children actively contributes to child survival coordination platforms at national and sub-national levels, providing crucial technical, financial, and logistics support. In line with global commitments, we focus on Fighting for Breath Pneumonia Centenary Commitment, supporting advocacy and partnerships efforts for pneumonia control.
In the nutrition sphere, Save the Children leads impactful projects, including the Growth through Nutrition (2016–2023) initiative. Funded by USAID, this multi-sectoral program strengthens government capacity, improves nutrition and health care services, and promotes optimal nutrition through comprehensive social and behavior change communication.
Our ongoing Nutrition Sensitive Agriculture Capacity Strengthening (NSA CASE) project, funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, showcases notable achievements in improving policy environments and financing structures.
Save the Children also hosts the Ethiopian Civil Society Coalition - Scaling Up Nutrition (ECSC-SUN) network, fostering collaboration among more than 60 international and local NGOs. Notable achievements include the approval and launch of the National Food and Nutrition Policy and Strategy, demonstrating consistent improvement and commitment at both national and sub-national levels.
At Save the Children, we remain committed to our mission, tirelessly working towards a healthier and brighter future for Ethiopia's children.
