SLEAC Report: Sahel Region, Chad. October 2015

Chad is regularly faced with a situation of food insecurity. In 2010, nearly two million people needed food assistance due a drastic drop in cereal production due to the poor harvest (a 34% reduction as compared to the average of previous harvests). Malnutrition is classified as an endemic problem in Chad. Between 2000 and 2010, the rate of underweight children increased from 28% to 30%, chronic malnutrition increased from 28% to 39% and acute malnutrition increased from 14.6% to over 16%.

The data collection for this SLEAC assessment took place from 24 August to 12 September 2015. The main data collected and analyzed included anthropometric measurements, MUAC and edema, and qualitative information was collected from covered and uncovered cases on recognizing malnutrition, knowledge of CMAM programs and common boosters and barriers to access to treatment for malnutrition. This survey was implemented to get a snapshot of the situation of coverage and access to CMAM programming in different health districts in the Sahel region during the lean season.