Resource information
Despite remarkable economic growth in
the past decade, undernutrition remains a serious public
health problem in Angola. High rates of child stunting and
micronutrient deficiencies are contributing to an under-five
mortality rate of 161 deaths per 1,000 live births, limiting
the growth and development of children, hindering
productivity, and preventing the country from reaching
millennium development goals one and four. In response to
this situation, the objectives of this report are to: a)
synthesize available information on the nutrition situation
in Angola; b) discuss the three main determinants of
undernutrition using the United Nations Children's Fund
(UNICEF) conceptual framework; c) summarize existing
nutrition policies and programs in the country; and d)
propose next steps for action. Nutrition policy agenda is
slowly gaining momentum in the country. The national food
security and nutrition strategy released in 2009 include
nutrition actions for children under five. The national
nutrition policy is in the process of being finalized. High
priority problems include the dearth of up-to-date,
reliable, and comprehensive information on the nutrition
situation in the country, severe shortages of trained
nutritionists, and an exclusion of nutrition from
community-based health activities. The following
recommendations are proposed as next steps: 1) incorporate
the collection of nutrition data into routine, planned
surveys; 2) finalize the national nutrition policy, conduct
a rigorous gap analysis, and develop a costed implementation
plan to effectively scale-up nutrition activities in the
country; 3) enhance capacity building efforts in the field
of nutrition; 4) improve nutrition surveillance and
screening activities and; 5) incorporate nutrition into
community-based activities.
