Early warning information from the DPPA/B and reports from health bureaus in affected woredas raised at federal and regional task force meetings resulted in some 24 full emergency nutrition surveys being conducted jointly by NGOs with support of the Ministry of Health, DPPB/FS office and regional ENCU (RENCU) in five regions.
All surveys used SMART methodology. Three baseline livelihood zone surveys were conducted in Tigray by the RENCU during this period. Unfortunately the quality of these surveys was sub-standard and subsequently not endorsed by the ENCU. One survey conducted in South Gondar Zone was also found to be sub-standard and rejected. Two nutrition surveys were conducted in Somali Region- Warder and Fik Zones by the RHB with DPPB and UNICEF during the second quarter. Only the survey conducted in Warder woreda, Warder zone was found to be of acceptable quality. Therefore findings from 19 surveys endorsed by the ENCU are included in this bulletin (see graph 1 above).
Overview of key findings:
From the emergency nutrition surveys the prevalence of global acute malnutrition ranged from a low of 6.9% (C.I. 5.0-8.8%) in Tullo woreda, East Harerge, Oromia in early April to a high of 19.5% (C.I. 15.9-23.1%) in Boricha, Sidama Zone, SNNPR in mid-April in cropping areas. In the only pastoralist survey the situation was worse, with global acute malnutrition estimated at 23.4% (17.9-30.0%) in Warder woreda, Warder zone, Somali Region in late April. The nutrition situation presented was considered as 'critical' in 4 surveys, 'serious' in 8 surveys and 'poor' in 5 surveys and 'typical' in 2 surveys . Severe acute malnutrition prevalence was highest in SNNPR surveys with high levels of oedema presented and in the Somali region survey. A summary of the results from surveys is presented in graph 1.