Guatemala City, by Kevin Castillo -AGN- Guatemalan government authorities held a press conference to follow up on actions taken as part of the Great National Crusade for Nutrition -GCNN- to efficiently and effectively reduce acute and severe malnutrition in the country. They discussed the general situation of acute malnutrition, the integration of the inter-institutional effort, and the goals to achieve.
According to the representative of the Secretariat of Food and Nutritional Security -Sesan-, the President gave instructions in April of this year to provide comprehensive assistance to families with children in such conditions.
The operation of the joint adaptation protocol of the National Food and Nutrition Security System was used. However, the Ministry of Defense reserves’ activities and interventions are now accessible as unconditional support.
The comprehensive assistance roundtable is comprised of the following ministries:
- National Defense
- Education
- Agriculture, Livestock and Food
- Social Development
- Public Health and Social Assistance
Sesan coordinates actions and measures for food and nutritional security throughout the country.
The Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance -MSPAS- sends the database with detected cases of acute malnutrition to Sesan for data validation in the National Registry of Person portal through the registries of the Directorate of Epidemiology and Risk Management.
Interinstitutional coordination /Photo: Mindef
Phases
First:
The distribution of food assistance, which includes three servings for each child identified with severe acute malnutrition, is reaching each home. The military reserves operate directly throughout the national territory.
Second:
The Ministry of Social Development -Mides- distributes cash transfers. In addition, Sesan’s validation consists of filtering out duplicates, triplicates, or the elimination of the deceased. After the data review, Sesan submits the list of people with children with severe and moderate acute malnutrition that have been attended.
Additionally, the Ministry of Education supports the opening and maintaining community centers for comprehensive child development.
Authorities reported that as of March 31, there are 3,380 children with moderate acute malnutrition and 901 with severe acute malnutrition.
Sesan requests the implementing agencies to include the identified children in the programs and activities following the regulations and requirements of each institution according to the framework of action of the joint adaptation protocol of the National Food and Nutrition Security System.
The Government of Guatemala will continue to work to contribute to child nutrition in the country.
