It is estimated that 51 million children suffer from acute malnutrition worldwide. Part of the measures to put an end to this situation are based on improving the productive systems of communities at risk.
Within these measures, technology also plays a fundamental role. Since March 2018, the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) has had a digital tool for assistance and nutritional monitoring of minors .
Called SCOPE CODA, the device allows humanitarian workers to access children’s data and medical history in real time. It works even in remote and isolated areas where there is no connection.
Child malnutrition in the world
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines malnutrition as deficiencies, excesses or imbalances in a person’s intake of energy and/or nutrients. Thus, malnutrition refers to both obesity (and diet-related diseases such as diabetes or heart disease) and undernutrition (ranging from stunted growth to nutrient deficiencies).
Childhood obesity is a health problem that could outnumber those affected by malnutrition. This, however, remains the main concern worldwide. Malnutrition causes disease, growth and development problems, and even death in many countries around the world. These are some of the data highlighted by the WHO:
- One in four children in the world is stunted. In developing countries, the proportion is one in three.
- 66 million school-age children attend class hungry in developing countries. 23 of them are located on the African continent.
- 3 million children die each year as a direct consequence of malnutrition.
Objective: Zero Hunger
The second of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals to make the world a better place by 2030 is called “Zero Hunger”. This is really the most urgent challenge to achieve goal number one: “End poverty in all its forms”.
How a mobile is used to fight malnutrition
For doctors and health workers in remote areas with few resources, information is essential. Most only have paper files to store patient information, which are often lost, misplaced or, in times of rain, damaged beyond use.
This greatly hinders the work of doctors who cannot access basic information about each child . Like, for example, if you have been admitted for malnutrition before or if it is the first time.
WFP ‘s SCOPE CODA system is a smartphone -like device that integrates an electronic card reader . It enables humanitarian workers to record and view information on the nutritional status of children and pregnant or lactating women. This way, they can have an overview of their health and make quick, data-driven decisions. It even works offline, which is absolutely necessary in remote and isolated areas.
Reducing manual data entry on paper saves time, eliminates paperwork for sending and receiving documents, and increases record security. The digitized system also allows the data collected to be shared with other workers, governments or NGOs.
Uganda , Tajikistan and South Sudan
The SCOPE CODA System has been used since March 2018 (and in collaboration with national governments and different NGOs) in South Sudan, Uganda and Tajikistan, countries with a high percentage of child malnutrition .
In the most rural and remote communities, the actions of families are essential for the work of humanitarian workers (and technology ) to succeed. The personal initiative of Teresa, a woman from Loputuk (Uganda) , is a good example. One of her five children was treated for severe malnutrition by a government program with WFP support. Fortunately, he was cured and has never needed this type of treatment again.
Since then, Teresa has given talks to families in her community in which she shares her experience and explains how to fight malnutrition. Recently, she has also begun to talk about SCOPE CODA and to explain its advantages over paper records.
The way to follow
Last February, WFP received the GLOMO Award (Global Mobile Awards) for its contribution to the Development Goals with the SCOPE CODA tool. “SCOPE CODA is a tangible step towards achieving Zero Hunger by 2030 through faster, more transparent and data-driven decision-making,” says Enrica Porcari, WFP Chief Information Officer and Chief Technology Officer.
SCOPE CODA has demonstrated in the field the potential of mobile technology against malnutrition. The objective, they point out from the WFP, is to start using it in other high-priority countries in the coming years. And, although it was initially developed for malnutrition treatment programs, it can be used in many other areas and initiatives.
