UNICEF & WHO Prevention, Early Detection and Treatment of Wasting in Children 0-59 Months through National Health Systems in the Context of COVID-19, 2020. This document serves as a tool for implementing the recommendations reflected in existing WHO and UNICEF guidance on the delivery of services through national health systems for the prevention, early detection and treatment of child wasting in the context of COVID-19. This note reflects broad guidance for all levels of the health system, including community health services that offer prevention, early detection and treatment services for child wasting.
The GNC Technical Alliance Management of Child Wasting in the context of COVID-19 Brief No.1 (March 27th, 2020): This brief is meant to provide information specific to services and programmes for the management of child wasting in the context of COVID-19, and it contains information that is not already available elsewhere. This Brief does not cover wider mitigation and response measures available in other guidance. Arabic, Spanish and French versions are also available under the same link. Download English webinar slides and recording. Download French webinar slides and recording. Download Spanish webinar slides and recording. Download Arabic slides
The GNC Technical Alliance Wasting Brief 2: Way forward for wasting programming in light of COVID-19 (August 2021) developed in response to questions posed on when and how to resume pre-covid 19 programming within wasting treatment interventions.
Podcast: Listen in to GNC Technical Alliance Conversations with programmers on the impact of COVID-19 on nutrition programming. Hear from programmers on the preparations for use of Family MUAC in Ethiopia and experience in using Family MUAC in a refugee context in Ethiopia.
Wasting and COVID-19 Programme Adaptations Information Note 1 This information note has been prepared to outline potential options when RUTF and RUSF are unavailable. Note - this note was updated in May 2022
Wasting and COVID -19 Programme Adaptations Information Note 2 This information note recommends trial phone-based screening using recommended questions where standard screening processes or family/mothers’ MUAC is not possible.
Wasting and COVID-19 Programme Adaptations Information Note 3 This information note outlines options in the case that provision of in-person monitoring or supervision by CHWs is not possible.
Wasting and COVID-19 Programme Adaptations Information Note 4 This information note provides information about apps and tools available for remote training of CHWs in a context where the responsibility for treating wasting was transferred to CHWs due to COVID-19.
Wasting and COVID-19 Programme Adaptations Information Note 5 This information note outlines adaptations required to existing community-based MAMI programmes in the context of COVID-19.
Resource Lists of articles/tools that are referenced in the Wasting - COVID-19 related outputs of the Wasting GTWG:
Statement on the management of at-risk mothers and infants under six months (MAMI) in the context of COVID-19 (August 2020) This statement was issued by members of the MAMI Special Interest Group in collaboration with the Wasting Thematic Working Group of the GNC Technical Alliance, in response to concerns related to COVID-19 and its potential impact on the wellbeing of infants under six months (u6m) and their caregivers
Adapting Community-based Management of Acute Malnutrition in the context of COVID-19 This guide is designed to assist Concern's health and nutrition staff responsible for the management and coordination of Community-based Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) operations to adapt and modify programme modalities in the context of COVID-19. The guide attempts to provide practical steps based on the current international guidelines and recommendations to ensure essential treatment services for acute malnutrition continue as much as possible while minimising the risk of COVID-19 transmission. Download the French version.
IRC/UNICEF Toolkit for CHW Community-based Treatment of Uncomplicated Wasting for Children 6-59 months in the Context of COVID-19. This document aims to provide an implementation protocol and simplified toolkit to assist implementers in providing treatment for uncomplicated wasting through community health workers (CHWs) in the context of COVID-19, based on current global recommendations. The simplified toolkit can be found here and is provides simplified CHW registers, job aids and Training videos in several languages.
Simplified Protocol for Acute Malnutrition Updated simplified protocol 2-pager A simplified, combined protocol is intended to simplify and unify the treatment of uncomplicated severe and moderate acute malnutrition for children ages 6-59 months into one protocol in order to improve the coverage, quality, continuity of care and cost-effectiveness of acute malnutrition treatment in resource-constrained settings.
The State of Acute Malnutrition The Family MUAC Approach also known as MUAC for mothers or Mother-MUAC, trains mothers and other caregivers to identify early signs of malnutrition in their children using a simple to use Mid-Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) tape. By moving this task to mothers (or other family members), who are able to do it as effectively as Community Health Workers (CHWs), the cases are detected earlier, leading to fewer hospitalisations. Some countries have adopted this approach during the context of COVID-19.
IASC Interim Recommendations for Adjusting Food Distribution Standard Operating Procedures in the Context of the COVID-19 Outbreak – developed by World Food Programme (WFP). Version 2 (March 2020) Interim Guidance for field coordinators, site managers and public health personnel, as well as national and local governments and the wider humanitarian community working at food distribution sites, who are involved in the decision making and implementation of multi-sectorial COVID-19 outbreak readiness and response activities.
Interim Guidance on Mitigating the Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Food and Nutrition of Schoolchildren. This is joint guidance from FAO, UNICEF and WFP to guide countries on how to maintain the continuity of school nutrition programmes, including school feeding in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
United Nations System Standing Committee on Nutrition (UNSCN). Resource List on Food Systems and Nutrition Responses. Provides links to UN agencies’ responses, food systems, IYCF, school-aged children, adults, emergency nutrition responses and articles of interest.
WHO Key planning recommendations for mass gatherings in the context of the current COVID-19 outbreak (Interim Guidance – Updated 4 Nov 2021) For consideration for nutrition programmes conducting mass gatherings (e.g. during distributions organised by supplementary feeding programmes).
WHO Reducing excess mortality from common illnesses during an influenza pandemic (2008) Guideline which provides strategies for prevention and treatment, at the community and household levels, of the most likely contributors to mortality from common illnesses during an influenza pandemic and recommendations to support a minimum level of continuity for priority public health programmes during a pandemic. Covers acute malnutrition programmes (p. 24).
WHO Infection Prevention and Control during health care when COVID-19 infection is suspected or confirmed (Updated 12 July 2021) Includes standard precautions for facilities to take with all patients (e.g. those attending health and nutrition facilities for treatment of malnutrition)
WHO Advice on the use of masks in the context of the COVID-19. (Updated 1 December 2020) Rapid guidance for public health and IPC professionals, HCWs and community health workers on the use of medical masks. Also see COVID-19: Contact and Droplet Precautions - Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
WHO Resource Page on COVID-19 Occupational Health (Multiple Resources) Includes guidance rights, roles and responsibilities of health workers, health workers exposure risk assessment and management, rational use of PPE and a risk communication package.