Mohamed Ag Ayoya, UNICEF representative in South Sudan, said they need a multi-sectoral approach that involves the government to help prevent malnutrition which is putting the future of the country at risk as it emerges from the five years conflict.
"Every child in need of treatment for malnutrition is a failure, a failure in preventing the suffering," Ayoya told journalists in Juba during the launch of the latest state of the world's children's report.
The UNICEF official disclosed that the prevalence of acute malnutrition among children in South Sudan has increased from 13 percent in 2018 to 16 percent in 2019, which is above the 15 percent emergency threshold.
Ayoya added that a paradigm shift was needed to help tackle malnutrition by shifting from focusing on treatment to prioritizing prevention.
"Preventing malnutrition is an essential part of realizing every child's right to health. Young children can suffer lifelong consequences and in worst case die if malnutrition is not addressed timely during the crucial years in life," said Ayoya.
The report says that in 2018 at least 1 in 3 children under five globally were either stunted, wasted or overweight, reflecting poor growth hence putting them at risk of increased infections, weak learning skills, low immunity and, in many cases, death.
It also reveals that 340 million children globally suffered from deficiencies in vitamins and minerals such as iron and iodine, further undermining their growth.
"UNICEF calls on the government of South Sudan to produce a multi-sectoral strategic plan for nutrition with joint targets, pooled resources, multi-sectoral coordination, an accountability framework and joint monitoring and evaluation system," added Ayoya.
He also urged donors to support prevention activities as well as treatment of malnutrition and advocate for an enabling environment for a multi-sectoral nutrition strategy.
Andrea Suley, UNICEF deputy representative South Sudan, revealed the urgent need to prevent malaria, which remains one of the biggest contributors of malnutrition in the youngest nation.
"Tackling malnutrition also requires addressing underlying causes such as malaria which is often the start of a journey into malnutrition," added Suley.