Addis Ababa, April 19, 2018: The Ethiopia Government and humanitarian agencies should prioritise protecting older people from malnutrition, according to a new field report on emergency nutrition in Ethiopia by HelpAge International.

Drawing lessons learned from the recent worst drought to have hit Ethiopia and other Horn of Africa states, the report published in the latest edition of the Field Exchange points out that older people receive little attention in emergency situations.

Food shortages lead to increased prices, and older people, who are often among the poorest as a result of lack of social protection, loss of income opportunity during specific emergencies are therefore unable to afford to maintain a reasonable diet for them and their families. In the event that they get food support, they tend to give their limited ration to younger members of the family.

“Yet older people can have specific nutritional needs, for example they may require specific nutrients or require that food be easier to chew and break down. If emergency food distributions, and agencies coordinating these, do not take account of specific requirements, they risk excluding older people from being able to access the humanitarian assistance they are entitled to. This can lead to older people going hungry or becoming malnourished,” Kidist Negash Weldeyohannis, Regional Health and Nutrition Programme Manager at HelpAge International and author of the report says.

In 2016 and 2017, HelpAge International conducted two rapid health and nutrition assessments in Adami Tulu Jido Kombolcha woreda1 of East Shewa zone and Teltele woreda of Borena zone based on the rapid assessment method for older people (RAM-OP) which was developed in 2013 by the HelpAge in collaboration with Brixton Health and Valid International.

Both assessments showed high levels of acute malnutrition among older people, including a “serious” global acute malnutrition (GAM) rate in Adami Tulu Jido Kombolcha of 10.5 per cent and a “critical” GAM rate in Teltele of 15 per cent.

Kidist suggests that this high figures indicate exclusion of older people in emergency responses due in part to limited resources. But adds that limited evidence on older people’s vulnerability and how they can support their households is another reason why they are ignored.

"Older people are often invisible. They are rarely included in national-level needs assessments in emergencies," said Kidist.

To meet the nutritional needs of older people in emergencies, Kidist recommends that distributed food is suitable for older people, and that this is integrated into all health planning and response actions.

"This begins with redesigning the Health Management Information System in a way that captures specific data and key indicators for older people disaggregated by age and sex,” she said.

Kidist also recommends that national guidelines on the management of acute malnutrition in Ethiopia be revised urgently to make sure older people are included in all aspects, from assessment to service delivery.

The 2007 Central Statistics Agency (CSA) census report indicated that 3,565,161 of Ethiopia’s population are over 60 years. This represents about 5 per cent of the general population.

ENDS

About HelpAge

HelpAge International is a global network of organisations promoting the right of all older people to lead dignified, healthy and secure lives. We have a strong, value-based position which puts the experience of older women and men at the centre of our work.

For more information, contact

Mr Anteneh Teshome, Communications Officer, HelpAge International, Ethiopia; Anteneh.teshome@helpage.org

Ms Kidist Negash, Regional Health and Nutrition Program Manager (Africa), Tel: +251 (0)11- 1261535/37; Mob: +251 911 648 195; Email:kidist.negash@helpage.org; Skype: kidist.negash

The report can be downloaded from https://www.ennonline.net/fex/ or https://www.ennonline.net/attachments/2789/FEX-57-Web_final_17Apr18.pdf