OFDA'S CONTRIBUTION IN BURKINA FASO RECOGNIZED

UNCLAS OUAGADOUGOU 000581


ACCRA FOR USAID WEST AFRICA
DAKAR FOR USAID FOOD FOR PEACE AND OFDA
DAKAR FOR FAS
DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR/DP
STATE FOR AF/W

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID EAGR ECON EFIN UV
SUBJECT: OFDA'S CONTRIBUTION IN BURKINA FASO RECOGNIZED

Summary. In its ongoing effort to enhance the government of Burkina
Faso's capacity to address high rates of malnutrition, UNICEF
donated vehicles, equipment and supplies valued at 525 million CFA
($1.14 million) to the Ministry of Health (MOH) on 16 July.
During his speech, the UNICEF Representative spoke about the scope
and impact of child malnutrition and formally recognized the Embassy
and USAID for funding nutrition programs through OFDA. When
introducing USAID/OFDA's Acting Regional Advisor to the Minister of
Health, UNICEF again emphasized USAID/OFDA's contribution to
nutrition programs. Nutrition is the central pillar of USAID/OFDA's
country strategy for Burkina Faso. End Summary


1. On the 16th of July, USAID/OFDA's Acting Regional Advisor
attended a ceremony presided over by the Minister of Health where
UNICEF turned over 18 vehicles and a large quantity of equipment and
supplies to the MOH in order to help it detect malnutrition and
treat cases of severe acute malnutrition. The total value of the
transfer was estimated to be 525 million CFA ($1.14 million).


2. During his speech, the UNICEF Representative, Herve Peries,
emphasized the importance of addressing the serious problem of child
malnutrition in Burkina Faso which results in an estimated 800,000
children being chronically malnourished and 280,000 children
suffering acute malnutrition.


3. Peries also noted that malnutrition has serious implications for
overall child health and mortality rates. Malnutrition plays a
direct role in 35% of the deaths of children under five and it
impacts children's ability to learn and gain the skills needed to be
productive adults. This loss of productivity negatively impacts
Burkina Faso's overall economic growth and development.


4. According to Peries, UNICEF's budget for malnutrition went from
500 million CFA ($1.1 million) in 2006 to approximately three
billion CFA ($6.5 million) in 2008 and 2009. This increased funding
has made possible programs to target severe acute malnutrition.
These programs are now being established in health districts
throughout the country.


5. Peries formally recognized USAID's funding for nutrition
programs through OFDA and he also acknowledged the Embassy's efforts
through OFDA and Food for Peace to improve overall nutrition in
Burkina Faso. In addition, following the formal ceremony, he
introduced USAID/OFDA's Acting Regional Advisor to the Minister of
Health and again emphasized the support the U.S. government was
providing for nutrition programs through USAID/OFDA.


6. The UNICEF Representative also noted that increased funding for
malnutrition programs has been driven largely by the response to the
food [price] crisis and that malnutrition is more than just a food
issue. He further observed that current support for malnutrition
programs comes largely from short-term, emergency funding and that
in order to successfully address malnutrition in the long-term, a
more stable source of funding is required from both donors and the
GOBF.


7. In concluding his remarks, the UNICEF Representative again
emphasized that good nutrition is an essential element in a
country's development; he pointed out that a panel of experts,
including five Nobel Prize recipients, determined that efforts to
reduce malnutrition were the best investments for development in
terms of costs and benefits.


8. During follow-on remarks, the Minister of Health expressed the
government's appreciation for UNICEF's donation. He also emphasized
the importance that the GOBF places on nutrition and the efforts it
was making to improve nutrition levels in Burkina Faso.


9. Comment: As recently as 2006, key officials in the MOH argued
that malnutrition was not a problem that needed to be addressed.
However, as the Minister's comments indicate, the MOH has changed
its position.


10. Comment continued: Nutrition is the central pillar of
USAID/OFDA's country strategy for Burkina Faso which has some of the
highest rates of chronic and global acute malnutrition in Africa.
In recognition of the impact that high food prices have on such
vulnerable populations, USAID/OFDA's total funding for programs in
Burkina Faso in FY2009 is $8.9 million, making it the largest single
USAID/OFDA country program in the region. All of USAID/OFDA's
programs in Burkina Faso, with the exception of $250,000 which was
provided uniquely for the purchase of Measles vaccines, have a
nutrition component.

LAEUCHLI