Angola's Success: Reducing Childhood Underweight

Angola has made notable progress in reducing the prevalence of underweight children, with rates falling from 36.2% in 1996 to 19% in 2015. This positive trajectory has continued in recent years, with Angola on course to meet the global nutrition target for wasting. According to the latest data, 4.9% of children under 5 years of age are affected by wasting, which is lower than the average for the African region. However, it is important to acknowledge that Angola still faces challenges in other areas of child health and nutrition. For instance, there has been no progress in reducing stunting, with 37.6% of children under 5 affected, and the country is off course for preventing an increase in the prevalence of overweight children. Additionally, Angola needs to address issues such as low birth weight and anaemia among women of reproductive age to comprehensively improve child health outcomes.

Angola is on course to meet the global nutrition target for wasting

Angola has been working to strengthen its capacity building on Integrated Care for Childhood Illnesses (ICCI) with the support of the World Health Organization (WHO). This is because, despite significant efforts to improve child health, data shows that 44 out of every 1,000 children in Angola still die before their fifth birthday due to common childhood diseases, such as malaria, diarrhoeal diseases, severe malnutrition, and pneumonia, as well as complications from premature births.

The country is also facing challenges in reducing anaemia among women of reproductive age, with 44.5% of women aged 15 to 49 affected. There has been some progress in reducing low birth weight, with 15.3% of infants affected, and Angola is on course to meet the target for maternal, infant, and young child nutrition (MIYCN). However, there is insufficient data to assess progress towards the exclusive breastfeeding target.

Overall, Angola's progress towards meeting global nutrition targets is mixed, with improvements in some areas but stagnation or worsening trends in others.

Angola has made progress towards achieving the low birth weight target

Angola's progress is also evident in its efforts to strengthen capacity building for Integrated Care for Childhood Illnesses (ICCI). Despite challenges, Angola has recognised the importance of improving child health and is taking steps to reduce child mortality, specifically targeting neonatal mortality, which is currently above the recommended rate for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The country is also addressing issues related to maternal health, with a particular focus on reducing anaemia among women of reproductive age. While there is still work to be done, Angola's commitment to improving the health and nutrition of its population is evident, and it is on course to meet the global nutrition target for maternal, infant, and young child nutrition (MIYCN).

The prevalence of underweight children in Angola has decreased over time

Angola has made notable progress in reducing the prevalence of underweight children, with rates decreasing over time. According to data from 1996 to 2015, the percentage of underweight children under five in Angola fell from 36.2% to 19%. This positive trend indicates that Angola is on course to meet the global nutrition target for maternal, infant, and young child nutrition (MIYCN).

The country has implemented initiatives to address childhood illnesses and improve child health. Despite these efforts, common diseases such as malaria, diarrheal illnesses, severe malnutrition, and pneumonia continue to contribute to child mortality. Additionally, Angola faces challenges in reducing low birth weight, with 15.3% of infants affected, and in combating anaemia among women of reproductive age, which affects 44.5% of women aged 15 to 49.

Angola's progress in reducing underweight children is encouraging, and continued efforts are necessary to sustain this positive trajectory.

Angola is strengthening capacity building on Integrated Care for Childhood Illnesses

Angola is strengthening its capacity building on Integrated Care for Childhood Illnesses (IMCI) to improve child health and reduce child mortality. According to data from IIMS/2016, 44 out of every 1000 children in Angola die before reaching their fifth birthday due to common childhood diseases such as malaria, diarrhoeal diseases, severe malnutrition, and pneumonia, as well as complications from premature births.

The Ministry of Health, with support from the World Health Organization (WHO), is developing a Training of Trainers programme for health technicians at central, provincial, and municipal levels in areas such as women's health, child health, community health, nutrition, and health promotion. The training aims to improve the quality of services and reduce child mortality, particularly neonatal mortality, which is currently above the recommended rate for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The training is a priority activity for the 2023-2024 Biennium, as defined by the Angolan Ministry of Health and WHO. It will be cascaded to the rest of the country, addressing the urgent need to train primary-level technicians who serve the child population and update their knowledge based on recently published WHO standards and guidelines.

By strengthening the capacity and skills of health technicians, Angola aims to improve the care and services provided to the population, leading to better child health indicators such as nutritional status, compliance with vaccination schedules, and early detection and management of health risks.

IMCI is an integrated approach to child survival, growth, and development, designed by WHO and UNICEF in 1999 to reduce child morbidity and mortality in developing countries facing a shortage of specialised human resources. It has shown great benefits in improving child health and reducing mortality when correctly implemented through the training of technicians using algorithms and manuals for the detection, classification, and management of childhood illnesses.

In Angola, IMCI was first implemented in the early 1990s and is structured according to three components recommended by WHO: improving the skills of health workers, improving the service delivery of the health system, and enhancing the practices of families and the community.

Angola's obesity prevalence is lower than the regional average

Angola has made significant efforts to improve child health, but data shows that childhood diseases such as malaria, diarrhoea, severe malnutrition, and pneumonia continue to claim the lives of children under five. Despite this, Angola is on course to meet one of the global nutrition targets, with the prevalence of wasting in children under five being lower than the average for the African region.

The country faces challenges such as a high prevalence of anaemia among women of reproductive age, with 44.5% affected, and a lack of progress in reducing low birth weight, with 15.3% of infants affected. Additionally, there has been no improvement in the target for stunting, with 37.6% of children under five affected, higher than the regional average.

Angola's progress towards reducing childhood underweight is commendable, but there are still areas that require attention, such as anaemia, low birth weight, and stunting. The country's obesity rates are lower than the regional average, but more efforts are needed to address diet-related non-communicable diseases. Overall, Angola's nutritional status is a mixed bag, with improvements in some areas and persistent challenges in others.

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