Treating malnutrition in children

Child undernutrition is one of the most critical threats to child survival, growth and development. In 2022, an estimated 45 million children under 5 were affected by wasting, with 13.7 million suffering from severe wasting. Preventing child wasting and other forms of undernutrition is a key priority for the Child Nutrition Fund. But when prevention efforts fall short – due to a perfect storm of increasing inequities, conflict and climate-driven crises – we help reach children in need with life-saving treatment and set them back on the path to healthy growth and development.

The Child Nutrition Fund is working to support national governments in strengthening policies, programmes, and supplies to ensure that timely treatment and care reach at least 20 million children annually suffering from life-threatening forms of undernutrition by 2030. 

These life-saving efforts include:

• At least 90 per cent of children with severe wasting receive treatment with RUTF.
• At least 90 per cent of children with high-risk moderate wasting (high mortality risk) receive treatment with RUTF.

RUTF and other essential nutrition supplies are critical for treating severely malnourished children. This energy-dense micronutrient paste, made using peanuts, sugar, milk powder, oil, vitamins and minerals, has helped treat millions of children threatened by severe wasting. In 2023, an estimated 9.2 million children suffering from severe wasting received life-saving treatment worldwide – a remarkable increase from the previous year's reach of 7.2 million children.