Reducing malnutrition and stunting

Child malnutrition is significantly reduced in the Comoros thanks to the “Nutritional Care for Early Childhood Development” project. This program is funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to the tune of 1.38 billion francs (3.07 million USD).

At the closing ceremony of the program, the Minister of Health, Nassuha Oussene Salim, highlighted the remarkable results:  « Overall malnutrition has fallen from 11% to 6%, while stunting has fallen from 30% to 18% ».

Launched in June 2022 and completed in December 2024, the project aimed to improve maternal and child health by strengthening the care of children suffering from severe acute malnutrition. It has thus enabled the training of medical personnel, the rehabilitation of several health facilities and the improvement of sanitation services.

During the ceremony, Abe Koji, Ambassador of Japan to Madagascar and the Comoros, praised the impact of the project and called for continued efforts in favor of nutrition. The representative of UNICEF, Mustapha Ben Messaoud, warned of the consequences of severe acute malnutrition:  « The situation weakens the immune system of children and is responsible for one fifth of deaths among children under five ». This program is part of the national strategy for sustainable development, with the objective of achieving a zero rate of maternal and neonatal deaths by 2030. The results obtained demonstrate the effectiveness of the actions carried out and the importance of maintaining efforts to guarantee better health for Comorian children.