Addis Ababa –Health leaders and partners from eleven countries in the WHO African Region have concluded the first regional review and learning meeting of a three-year initiative aimed at preventing and treating child wasting
Meeting in Addis Ababa from 18 -21 August 2026, the representatives from Burkina Faso, Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria and South Sudan, alongside regional and global partners, reviewed progress, shared lessons learned and identified priorities to strengthen nutrition services and improve outcomes for vulnerable children across Africa
Launched in 2023 by the WHO Regional Office for Africa with financial support from the Government of Ireland, the initiative guides countries on how on ways to prevent and treat child wasting, a severe form of malnutrition where a child is dangerously thin for their height. It supports countries by strengthening national policies, expanding access to prevention and treatment services, reinforcing health and community systems and tackling the many factors that put children at risk
Child wasting remains a major public health challenge in Africa. According to the 2025 edition of the UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Joint Child Malnutrition Estimates, an estimated 11.7 million children under five in Africa were affected by wasting in 2024, including 2.7 million with severe wasting. More than a quarter of all children affected by wasting worldwide live in Africa
The meeting provided a platform for the experts to assess how countries can bring together health systems and services care, nutrition support, food systems, clean water and sanitation and social support to better prevent and treat wasting. They agreed that tackling both the immediate and underlying causes of malnutrition requires action across all these areas at once
“Child wasting remains one of the most urgent threats to child survival and development, yet it is entirely preventable and treatable,” said Dr Joan N. Matji, Global Director for Child Nutrition and Development at UNICEF. “We already have proven solutions. What is needed now is stronger political commitment, sustainable financing and coordinated action across all sectors,” she added
Over the three years of implementation, 23 countries adopted the 2023 WHO guideline on the prevention and management of child wasting, strengthening national policies, health systems and services children receive. More than 3 million children were screened for wasting, over 80 000 children with severe acute malnutrition received life-saving treatment, and more than 200 000 children and mothers benefited from cash support paired with nutrition assistance
The initiative has also strengthened regional collaboration. Countries have learned from one another and shared expertise and during the review meeting, participants highlighted practical approaches for building child wasting prevention into health, social protection and community systems
“The progress achieved over the past three years demonstrates what is possible when countries lead and partners work together to strengthen systems for the prevention and management of child wasting. The challenge now is to sustain these gains, scale up proven approaches and ensure that no child is left behind,” said Dr Francis Kasolo, WHO Representative in Ethiopia
The review meeting concluded with a renewed commitment from countries and partners to accelerate efforts based on solid evidence, strengthen accountability and mobilize the investments needed to end child wasting and improve the health and well-being of children across Africa
