Support to Zero Malnutrition Program - Ministry of Health and Sport

Results achieved by Bolivia’s Ministry of Health with the support of Canada and other international donors as of November 2015 include: (1) supporting 126 500 children under age two as direct beneficiaries with nutrition outreach activities in 166 rural municipalities (representing almost half of Bolivia’s municipalities) and 423 300 children under age two as indirect beneficiaries; (2) the Malnutrition Zero Program (PMDC) reduced the rate of chronic malnutrition among children by achieving 90% of children breastfed exclusively in their first six months (compared to 60% in 2007) and by increasing the introduction of complementary foods at six months from 20% in 2008 to 89% in 2015 in the targeted municipalities; and (3) the program also contributed to a decrease in the child mortality rate attributable to severe malnutrition from 8% to 3.6% between 2008 and 2015. Between 2013 and 2015: (1) the municipalities supported by the project took over the programs to ensure ongoing monitoring of the children’s nutritional status and with help from the project developed initiatives to facilitate access to locally produced nutritious foods through greenhouse vegetable gardens and cheese production; (2) health data collection software was implemented and adopted by 82% of the country’s municipalities; (3) the PMDC also led to the development of a legislative and normative framework for promoting better nutrition including the implementation of food fortification standards (addition of vitamins and/or minerals) the development of food guides and the adoption of a national food and nutrition policy in 2014; and (4) an external assessment of the project conducted in 2012 confirmed the project’s relevance and efficiency. Updated results for 2015 have confirmed the continued positive trend in the improved nutritional status of the project’s beneficiaries.