Nutrition
Global hunger now afflicts nearly a billion people worldwide. Severe acute malnutrition, however, is the more immediate killer: it threatens the lives of 19 million children. Every year at least 3.5 million of them die from malnutrition-related causes.
Action Against Hunger’s methods for identifying and rescuing populations afflicted with acute malnutrition are internationally renowned, having pioneered revolutionary nutrition products and field tested treatment protocols that have become industry standards.
From rural mountain villages to the confines of refugee camps to ethnically divided cities, Action Against Hunger treats and prevents malnutrition in over 40 countries around the world. Our programs are launched most often during times of crisis and focus on the most vulnerable, including young children and women who are pregnant or nursing.
What We Do
Evaluate Nutritional Needs
To assess the root causes of a malnutrition outbreak, ACF collects baseline data on key nutritional indicators like local capacities and resources, cultural practices, infrastructure, and geography. These nutrition surveys are essential for mounting an effective, customized response.
Treat Acute Malnutrition
ACF treats cases of severe acute malnutrition with inpatient care (for those with medical complications) and with community-based, outpatient programs. Without treatment severely malnourished women and children would likely face imminent death.
Prevent Acute Malnutrition
ACF’s prevention activities provide Ready-to-Use-Foods to patients discharged from therapeutic care, children with moderate acute malnutrition, and children in communities faced with seasonal hunger. Prevention can save millions of lives while long-term solutions are developed.
Build Local Capacity
ACF strengthens public health systems to combat malnutrition. We field teams that consist overwhelmingly of local staff and integrate our programs into existing health structures. When crises subside, we ensure local capacity is in place to support continued improvements in communities’ nutritional health.
Recent Nutrition News
February 2, 2012
More than 10 million people are at risk of food shortages across Africa’s Sahel region, including communities in Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Chad, Burkina Faso, South Sudan, and Ethiopia.... Read
November 30, 2011
As part of the launch of our new and exciting partnership with Two Degrees Food, we brought our message about ending deadly malnutrition to Los Angeles for the celeb-studded American Music Awards. Two Degrees’ vegan, gluten-free bars—available nationwide at Whole Foods supermarkets—not only taste fantastic, they’re also the backbone of an incredible “one-to-one” program.... Read
October 19, 2011
Life threatening conditions have reached catastrophic levels in the Horn of Africa, with the United Nations declaring famine in parts of Somalia, but people can still save lives and help restore self-sufficiency, says veteran newsman Dan Rather in a new public service announcement (PSA) produced for Action Against Hunger.
... Read
September 30, 2011
Nan Dale is the CEO of Action Against Hunger. Based in New York, she frequently travels to the field to experience and evaluate various programs. Recently, she spent a week in Kenya. This post originally appears on the Huffington Post.... Read
We're a Top Nonprofit
Action Against Hunger has been named one of the top nonprofits of 2011 by a panel of experts rating international charities.
