Provision of lifesaving therapeutic supply (RUTF) for children aged 6-59 months with Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) in high priority areas The overall objective of this intervention is to contribute to the reduction of under-nutrition related morbidity and mortality amongst children aged under-five.

Afghanistan`s nutrition situation continues to be alarming. Ongoing conflict, low access to basic services, and impact of natural disasters have exacerbated the existing vulnerabilities of communities, contributing towards high rates of acute malnutrition. More than two third of the country (22 out of 34 provinces) with high prevalence of acute malnutrition is classified at emergency level. The impact of drought in 2018 has extended through mid-2019 (next harvest period), further aggravating the poor nutritional situation. 

The Afghanistan`s nutrition cluster has identified five target provinces (Parwan, Wardak, Dykundi, Jawzjan and Khost) with pre-existing emergency level of acute malnutrition and low level of programme coverage, that would need continued nutrition services.

UNICEF, the sole provider of RUTF in the country, forecasted earlier this year shortage of RUTF, which led to the interruption of the scaling up of Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) treatment services at the national level, including in the Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) priority areas. To maintain the current scale of services in the target areas, UNICEF is seeking the support of the Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund (AHF) to procure the required RUTF. 

UNICEF needs two million USD to procure 27,713 cartons of RUTF to fill the gap of RUTF required for treatment of 30,566 children with SAM aged 6-59 months (16,811 girls amp 13,755 boys) in target areas. 

UNICEF will procure the RUTF through it is Supply Division. Supplies will be stored at national and regional UNICEF warehouses. Based on agreement between UNICEF and Public Nutrition Directorate (PND) of Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), PND is responsible to receive, review and forward the supply requests to UNICEF on quarterly basis and similarly, UNICEF is accountable to review the requests and process the distribution of requested supplies for implementing partners (IPs) from central and northern region warehouses to the provincial level on timely manner. The AHF project implementing partners are: Directorate of Public Health (DoPH) in Parwan Swedish Committee for Afghanistan (SCA) in Wardak MOVE in Dykundi Solidarity of Afghan Families (SAF) in Jawzjan OHPM in Khost.

UNICEF will provide through other funding sources therapeutic milks [F-75 amp F-100] and ReSoMaL to complement the lifesaving treatment services addressing the needs of children with SAM in 52 target districts in the five mentioned provinces.

Outpatient and inpatient treatment of SAM are integral components of the Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition (IMAM) approach, that will be delivered by the Basic Package of Health Services/ Essential Package of Hospital Services (BPHS/ EPHS) and humanitarian implementing partners through fixed health facilities and mobile teams. 

Furthermore, SAM treatment will be provided simultaneously with the treatment of Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM) supported by WFP, where applicable.