Nutrition Information in Namibia:Situation Analysis& The Way Forward

BySophie ChotardJoel ConkleJohn Mason

A Collaboration of:

TULANE UNIVERSITYSchool of Public Health & Tropical Medicine,Department of International Health,UNICEF NAMIBIA,&MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES10 November 2006

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We would like to thank Dr. Tino Munyiri, Project Officer for Maternal and Child Health atUNICEF Namibia, who made this project happen and provided continuous support.A specific note of appreciation is extended to Marjorie Van Wyk, Head of the Food and Nutritionsub-division in the Family Health Unit, Primary Health Care Directorate at the Ministry of Health and Social Services, for her constant support and invaluable input throughout thismission.We wish to thank the health directorates’ personnel in Oshana and Omusati region, whoorganized our visit despite a last minute notice and took the time to meet with us and take usaround the regions for long hours.Special thanks go to S. A. Swartz, HIS Data Clerk within the Primary Health Care Directorate atthe Ministry of Health and Social Services, for meeting every request we made for HIS data andreports.A special vote of thanks also goes to Gerhild Kolling, the UNICEF librarian, for being so helpfulin retrieving reports.We also would like to thank J. Shatilwe, Micro-Nutrient Officer within the Food and NutritionSub-division at MOHSS, for long hours spent in meetings and training.Finally, we would like to thank all the administration, finance and support staff at UNICEF for facilitating daily transport, meetings and administration issues.

ABBREVIATIONS and ACRONYMS

AIDS:Acquired Immune Deficiency SyndromeBMI:Body Mass IndexCBS:Central Bureau of StatisticsCDC:Center for Disease ControlCED:Chronic Energy DeficiencyCPI:Consumer Price IndexCSI:Coping Strategies IndexDFID:Department for International DevelopmentEMU:Emergency Management UnitEPI:Expanded Programme on ImmunizationEU:European UnionFANR:Food Agriculture and Natural ResourcesFANTA:Food and Nutrition Technical AssistanceFAO:Food and Agriculture OrganizationFIVIMS:Food Insecurity and Vulnerability Informationand Mapping SystemsFPI:Food Price IndexFSNTC:Food Security and Nutrition Technical CommitteeFSNC:(National) Food Security and Nutrition CouncilFSNS:Food Security and Nutrition SecretariatGMP:Growth Monitoring and PromotionGRN:Government Republic of NamibiaHIS:Health Information SystemHIV:Human Immunodeficiency VirusIDA:Iron Deficiency AnaemiaIDD:Iodine Deficiency DisordersMAWF:Ministry of Agriculture, Water and ForestryMGECW:Ministry of Gender Equality and Child WelfareMI:Micronutrient InitiativeMOHSS: Ministry of Health and Social ServicesMWTC:Ministry of Works, Transport and Communications NDHS: Namibia Demographic and Health Survey NEMC:National Emergency Management Committee NFSNAP:National Food Security and Nutrition Action Plan NGO:Non-governmental Organization NHIES:National Household Income and Expenditure Survey NEWFIU:National Early Warning and Food Information Unit NMS:Namibia Meteorological Services NPC:National Planning CommissionOPM:Office of the Prime Minister OVC:Orphans and Vulnerable ChildrenPHC:Primary Health CarePPA:Participatory Poverty AssessmentPS:Permanent Secretary

RED: Reaching Every DistrictREMU: Regional EmergencyManagement UnitSADC: Southern AfricanDevelopment CommunityUWC: University of Western CapeUNAM: University of NamibiaUNICEF:United Nations Children’s FundVAC: Vulnerability AssessmentCommitteeWFS: World Food SummitWFP: U.N World FoodProgrammeWHO: World Health Organization