The Government of France today donated 400,000 Euro to support nutrition programmes being implemented by the Ethiopian Ministry of Health in partnership with UNICEF.
The French contribution will support community-level treatment of severely malnourished children in Somali, Oromia, Amhara, Tigray and Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples’ regions.
“France appreciates efforts made by the Government of Ethiopia towards implementing the National Nutrition Programme and the National Nutrition Strategy, which include emergency nutrition interventions in often challenging circumstances,” said H.E. Mr Jean-Christophe Belliard, French Ambassador to Ethiopia. “France remains committed to maintaining its support to Ethiopia’s nutrition and food security programmes in partnership with UNICEF and the World Food Programme.”
UNICEF is supporting the Government of Ethiopia to build the capacity of health workers to prevent and treat severe malnutrition at the community level. It is estimated that close to 260,000 children will benefit from the decentralized programme in 2010.
“The Government of Ethiopia is implementing a successful nutrition programme at the village and household level which is resulting in historic wins for child survival,” said Ted Chaiban, UNICEF Representative to Ethiopia. ?Today’s generous contribution from the Government of France will support the treatment of severe acute malnutrition at community level through the Government’s flagship Health Extension Programme. As a result, mothers are able to treat their children earlier which means they recover faster and mortality levels are kept low.?
Today’s contribution builds on an earlier 500,000 Euro donation from the French Government in August 2009 in support of nutrition programmes in Ethiopia.
Source: Ambassade de France en Ethiopie
