Evaluation of Community-based Management of Acute Malnutrition Programme 2015-2017

The Community-based Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) approach to the treatment of acute malnutrition was introduced in DPRK in 2008 with the main objectives of (i) contribute to the overall efforts to reduce excess morbidity and mortality due to undernutrition (ii) to contribute to the reduction of the prevalence of undernutrition among children less than 5 years of age (iii) to treat severe acute malnutrition (SAM through the provision of therapeutic services, promotion of appropriate feeding practices and vulnerability reduction and (iv) to strengthen the technical capacity of the Ministry of Public Health at national, provincial and county levels to design, implement and monitor public health programmes at scale. With UNICEF support, the Government of DPRK established outpatient treatment services for children with severe acute malnutrition (SAM) without complications in 29 counties in four provinces, in approximately 1,000 ri (village) clinics and 14 orphanages (baby homes). Inpatient treatment for children with SAM with complications was established in 12 provincial hospitals. Overall, this provided geographical coverage to 16% of children aged under 5 years (U5).