Highlights
· Malawi is currently experiencing the worst food insecurity in over a decade affecting about 2.8 million people. Furthermore, the Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services indicates that in the 2015/2016 rainfall seasonal below normal rainfall amounts are expected in some areas particularly in the Shire Valley towards the end of season which will further exacerbate severe levels of vulnerability as a result of the El Nino.
· With 47 per cent of the children already undernourished, there are concerns of possible increased malnutrition rates and increased likelihood of water-borne diseases which may negatively affect the health and survival of children. A nutrition survey will be conducted in order to obtain updated nutrition data as the food insecurity situation persists.
· The country is also still recovering from floods that occurred earlier this year, which displaced 230,000 people.
· UNICEF continues to support strengthening of the quality of community management of acute malnutrition service delivery and effectiveness. In September 2015, UNICEF conducted supportive supervision and supplies end-user monitoring in four food insecure districts that experienced challenges with Ready to Use Therapeutic Food stock outs (restocking has since been completed).
· UNICEF also continues supporting routine immunization services by strengthening supportive supervision and mentorship to Health Surveillance Assistants in provision of static and outreach services. In the September, a total of 6,085 affected children were vaccinated against measles and 5,993 affected children were fully vaccinated in the eight flood affected districts.