Contacts In Washington: Aby Toure (202) 473 8302 akonate@worldbank.org In Addis Ababa : Gelila Woodeneh (251-1) 662 77 00 gwoodeneh@worldbank.org Washington, April 29, 2008- The Board of Executive Directors of the World Bank today approved a US$30 million grant in support of the Government’s efforts toattain the goals of the National Nutrition Strategy (NNS) and the Health Extension Program (HEP). Despite recent improvements, Ethiopia still has among the highest rates of malnutrition in Sub-Saharan Africa. Stunting, one of the markers of Protein-Energy Malnutrition, afflicts 47% of children under 5. Micronutrient deficiencies such as Iodine Deficiency Disorders – which irreversibly reduce children’s IQ levels – are also among the most prevalent disorders in Ethiopia. Overall, high malnutrition rates cost Ethiopia hundreds of millions of dollars a year in productivity. "This project will be a critical intervention for the children and mothers of this country.” said Sunil Rajkumar, World Bank Task Team Leader for the project. “Studies have proven that among all interventions in developing countries, nutrition interventions are among the cost-effective relative to impacts. Modest improvements in nutrition are cheap, and yet very effective in reducing child mortality and enhancing children's learning abilities.” Through community based interventions and enhanced communication, the project aims to develop nutrition-related behavior, and increase utilization of key micronutrients, leading to an improvement in the nutritional status of vulnerable groups. The project has two components. The Supporting Service Delivery component will provide assistance to community-based nutrition and health services. It will also support micronutrient interventions which will enhance the appropriate utilization of key micronutrients, especially iodine, iron, Vitamin A and zinc. The second component focuses on Institutional Strengthening and Capacity Building. Specifically, it will provide assistance to help strengthen human resources, improve coordination mechanisms for nutrition and build the institutional capacity of implementing units. This component will also support the development of an effective communications strategy to encourage changes in behavior that would positively affect nutritional status, such as the practice of optimal breastfeeding and child-feeding habits. Assistance will also be provided to set up a proper nutritional surveillance system in Ethiopia. The project will complement other interventions that are part of the National Nutrition Program, a multi-partner program designed to implement the country’s first National Nutrition Strategy. The Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) has been designated as the lead implementation agency of the project. ### For more information on the World Bank in sub-Saharan Africa visit: www.worldbank.org/afr For more information on the World Bank in Ethiopia visit: www.worldbank.org/ethiopia For more information about this project visit: http://web.worldbank.org/external/projects/main?pagePK=64283627&piPK=73230&theSitePK=295930&menuPK=295963&Projectid=P106228 |
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