UNICEF Nutrition Program in Afghanistan

Provinces	Badakhshan, Badghis, Baghlan, Balkh, Bamyan, Daykundi, Farah, Faryab, Ghazni, Ghor, Hilmand, Hirat, Jawzjan, Kabul, Kandahar, Kapisa, Khost, Kunar, Kunduz, Laghman, Logar, Nangarhar, Nimroz, Nuristan, Paktika, Paktya, Panjsher, Parwan, Samangan, Sari Pul, Takhar, Uruzgan, Wardak, Zabul
Program	Health (Increasing access of women and children to quality basic health services)
Dates	October 2008 - September 2009
Partner	United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF)
Website

Malnutrition is a major public health problem in Afghanistan and a significant contributing factor of maternal and child mortality. UNICEF is the main implementer of nutrition activities in Afghanistan and has been working with the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) for many years to establish and implement nutrition programs throughout the country. UNICEF and the MoPH aim to reduce morbidity and mortality from malnutrition in children between the ages of 6 and 59 months and reduce the prevalence of malnutrition in pregnant and breastfeeding women; improve infant and young child feeding practices; improve knowledge and skills of health providers and community health workers in the prevention, detection and management of malnutrition at the household level; and create a functioning system for community-based management of malnutrition.  Project activities are coordinated by the Nutrition Cluster comprised of the MoPH, UNICEF, WHO, FAO, and various NGOs and are carried out by NGOs implementing the Basic Package of Health Services (BPHS).  Activities are coordinated with other food and nutrition programs in order to maximize impact.

Funding for this project helps provide supplies and equipment to therapeutic feeding centers; high energy biscuits, micronutrients and emergency nutrition kits; training support for health workers and service providers; and educational materials on breastfeeding and other supportive nutrition practices.

All Health activities