WHO and UNICEF call for key actions in maternal and child nutrition

21 Sep 2020 --- The World Health Organization (WHO) and the UN’s Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have signed a collaborative framework to accelerate public health efforts that put marginalized and vulnerable populations first. The move puts maternal and child nutrition among the most critical areas of focus.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed huge gaps in accessing health, well-being and nutrition services among children and vulnerable populations,” notes Henrietta Fore, UNICEF’s executive director. 

“There has never been a more urgent need to work together. This new framework will help us strengthen health and food systems, and invest in mental health and psychosocial support in every country in the world,” Fore says. 

Building on a robust 70-year partnership between the two organizations, the Strategic Collaboration Framework (SCF) prioritizes four strategic areas for immediate attention and action at all levels of the organizations.

UNICEF and WHO called for legal measures to prohibit the promotion of breast milk substitutes to health workers and in health facilities.These are universal health coverage, via a primary health care and health systems approach; mental health and psychosocial well-being and development; public health emergencies; and maternal and child nutrition.

Maternal and child nutrition focalized
WHO and UNICEF explain that they have worked together to ensure children “survive and thrive,” and benefit from a safe and clean environment. 

The two organizations have collaborated so far to provide high-impact health, immunization, nutrition, HIV and early child development interventions. 

Moreover they worked together to provide safe water and sanitation services in every region of the world, including in fragile and conflict settings.

“At the heart of our work with UNICEF is seeing that every child not only survives but ultimately thrives and transforms their communities and future generations,” says Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO’s director-general. 

“With great appreciation and respect for our unique and complementary roles, we stand together in our commitment to achieve health for all. As this pandemic demonstrates, no one is safe until everyone is safe,” Ghebreyesus adds.

Previously, the partners called for new legal measures to prohibit the promotion of breast milk substitutes to health workers and in health facilities.

The International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN) report stated that countries are falling short in their efforts to stop the harmful promotion of breast milk substitutes. 

“The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed huge gaps in accessing nutrition services among children,” notes Henrietta Fore, UNICEF’s executive director. This is amplified as COVID-19 leaves an opening for the breast milk substitute industry to “capitalize on the crisis.” 

The agencies argued that the pandemic is highlighting the need for stronger legislation to protect families from false claims about the safety of breast milk substitutes or aggressive marketing practices.

Mounting efforts for global health
Furthermore, the WHO and UNICEF have also signed a ten-year Joint Programme on Mental Health and Psychosocial Well-being and Development of Children and Adolescents. 

In addition, it will increase access to care for mental health conditions, reduce suffering and enhance quality of life among children, adolescents and their caregivers.

Both organizations say they are particularly concerned about the urgent need to better tackle issues affecting adolescents. Depression is one of the leading causes of illness and disability among adolescents, and suicide is the second leading cause of death in adolescents.

WHO and UNICEF continue to work together to stop the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and ensure that every woman and every child has access to the essential health services they need, including immunizations and health check-ups.

The two organizations are also working together to support countries to introduce and deliver COVID-19 vaccines under the vaccines pillar of the “Access to COVID-19 Tools – Accelerator” (ACT-A) initiative, along with Gavi, CEPI and global immunization partners.

Lastly, the organizations are strengthening health systems through primary health care, as agreed in the Declaration of Astana, and the UN High-level declaration on UHC. 

This is in order to accelerate the achievement of universal health coverage and Sustainable Development Goal 3 targets by 2030, which is part of the UN’s National Sustainable Development Strategies (NSDS).

Edited by Kristiana Lalou