Wednesday July 11, 2018
The World Bank announced new support for Djibouti’s goal of reversing and ultimately eliminating childhood stunting with a US$15 million credit from IDA, the World Bank’s fund for the poorest countries.
This investment in human capital development, will focus on the critical first 1,000 days from pregnancy to age two, before stunting becomes largely irreversible. It will to target the multiple causes of stunting with activities aimed at providing 100,000 women and adolescent girls and 50,000 children with key health and nutrition services, tripling the rate of breastfeeding, and raising the percentage of children fully immunized before their first birthday to 80%, according to The World Bank.
The Towards Zero Stunting in Djibouti Project drew on global experience for its comprehensive strategy involving coordinated actions at the national and community levels, and a focus on scaling up the ongoing delivery of high impact nutrition and health services. The project will fund the objectives of the Government to expand the capacities of health facilities and community health workers to monitor and promote healthy growth for children. This will include ensuring children are receiving key nutrients such as Vitamin A and zinc, along with critical health treatments such as deworming, while increasing the number of ante- and postnatal care visits for women for counseling on infant and young child feeding and hygiene practices, and access to key supplements such as iron and folic acid.