DISCLAIMER: Please note that this IPC Acute Malnutrition analysis was integrated with an IPC Acute Food Insecurity analysis.

The latest Acute Malnutrition (AMN) analysis shows that around 309,000 children in Madagascar’s Grand South are likely to suffer from acute malnutrition through August 2022. This includes nearly 60,000 expected cases of Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM). Although still critical, compared to the previous analysis (June 2021), there is a significant improvement in the nutritional situation, with several districts moving from IPC AMN Phase 4 (Critical) or 3 (Serious) to IPC AMN Phase 2 (Alert) between November and December 2021. This is mainly related to prevention actions, particularly the effects of humanitarian food assistance, which has prioritised communes with Serious and Critical levels of acute malnutrition, as well as all those at risk of malnutrition, such as households with malnourished children and pregnant and lactating women. The nutritional situation could however worsen during the first projection period, which is the lean season (January to April 2022), with seven districts likely in IPC AMN Phase 3. A seasonal improvement is then expected during the second projection period (May to August 2022), except for in Amboasary Atsimo, which will likely remain in IPC AMN Phase 3.

In the short term:

• Continue actions to improve the coverage and quality of nutritional care for severely and moderately malnourished children in order to reach the 60,000 children in need of immediate treatment;
• Support food diversification actions for children already affected by acute malnutrition while ensuring the link between agriculture and nutrition;
• Strengthen and/or identify actions to improve the coverage of safe water and sanitation for vulnerable populations and in health facilities.

In the long term:

• Improve the nutritional situation of women and young children during the crucial 1,000-day period, based on screening/treatment activities for acute malnutrition and prevention activities;
• Strengthen early identification of acute malnutrition, diseases such as diarrhea, malaria/fever, and acute respiratory infections and their treatment;
• Strengthen mechanisms to promote good infant and young child feeding practices (IYCF);
• Support development programs that have a lasting impact on the economic situation of households.