Published: Tuesday, 06 February 2018 12:13
The latest nutrition data available for the country was that of the National Nutrition Survey conducted in 2014, which was undertaken before the Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone. After the outbreak that lasted for over a year, it was crucial for the country to reassess its nutrition situation.
Funded by Irish Aid and in partnership with development partners, including UNICEF, WHO, WFP Focus 1000 and Hellen Keller International, Action Against Hunger and the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, in October 2017 completed a nationwide nutrition survey, using the Standardized Monitoring and Assessment of Relief and Transition (SMART) methodology.
The survey, starting from 1st of July to 31st of October 2017, focused on obtaining and analyzing anthropometric data; data on maternal, infant and young child feeding practices; water, sanitation and hygiene indicators; food security and livelihoods indicators; data on vaccination as well as morbidity and mortality rates.
The target of this survey were children of 0 – 59 months old, mothers and women of reproductive age across 95,520 households from all 14 districts of the country.
The final report and the findings of the national nutrition survey was launched on Wednesday 31st January 2018 in Freetown by the Director of Food and Nutrition Aminata S. Koroma, after giving the keynote address on behalf of the Chef Medical Officer.
To read full report click here