Emergency Nutrition Plan 
                       2022- 2024 
        
        
        
        
        
                    MINISTRY OF HEALTH 
                          SRI LANKA 
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        Contents 
        
          1.  Emergency nutrition plan 2020-2022 
        
          2.  Annexures 
        
           Annexure I – Emergency Nutrition action Plan 
           Annexure II – Proposal 1 - Proposal on Cash transfer schemes to support Nutrition security 
           Annexure III – Proposal 1 - Sample menus with approximate portions for freshly cooked 
           meals 
           Annexure IV – Proposal 1 - Recommendations for food baskets/packs for needy families 
           Annexure V – Proposal 2 - Proposal on Foster schemes to support the Nutritionally 
           vulnerable 
           Annexure VI – Proposal 3 - Proposal on Addressing Micro-nutrient Security through 
           Nutrition Sensitive Home Gardening 
           Annexure VII – Proposal 3 – Guideline on Home gardening 
           Annexure VIII - Proposal 4 - Proposal on Cash management support to communities at 
           risk 
           Annexure IX - Proposal 4 - Brief outline of the Cash Management for better health and 
           wellbeing package developed by the Estate & Urban Health Unit 
           Annexure X - Proposal 5 - Proposal on Establishment of sufficiency economy-based 
           villages for sustainable nutrition security 
           Annexure XI - Proposal 6 - Proposal on enhancing communication and mobilizing support 
           to address nutrition security 
           Annexure XII - Proposal 6 - Health messages to be shared with general public 
           Annexure XIII – Proposal 7 - Proposal on Multiple micronutrient supplementation for 
           school going adolescents in vulnerable areas 
        
        
          3.  List of Contributors 
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                           Emergency Nutrition Plan 2022- 2024 
              1.  Introduction 
           
           The Nutrition status of Sri Lankans is likely to further deteriorate in the coming months due to the 
           economic crisis and the impending food crisis. A trend study found that the performance of selected 
           dietary metrics had remained stagnant well before 2021. Food production, distribution, cost, and 
           accessibility have been affected by the concurrent economic crisis and COVID 19 outbreak. The 
           average price of a nutritious meal has increased by 156% according to a rapid analysis done by 
           the National Department of Planning and World Food Programme, and these factors will have a 
           detrimental effect on nutritional status as a result of reduced affordability and accessibility. In 
           addition, the response of the health service to the early detection and correction of nutritional 
           problems has become increasingly challenging. The situation requires an immediate multisector 
           response that are well-coordinated and monitored, bringing together all sectors involved. 
           The  primary  objective  of  the  National  Emergency  Nutrition  Plan  is  to  prevent  further 
           deterioration in the nutritional status of Sri Lankans. 
              2.  Nutrition status 
           
           The last national assessment on Nutrition status was in 2016 (Demographic Health Survey- DHS). 
           The next DHS should have captured progress, which was due in 2021, could not be conducted 
           due to the COVID 19 situation. Routine information through the MCH system provides service 
           data of children under five, school children and pregnant mothers. For the emergency plan, data 
           available through the routine e RHMIS system of Family Health Bureau will be utilized in the 
           planning phase and for routine monitoring of the implementation of the plan. 
           The percentage underweight among under 5 children can be used as the baseline which was 
           available from routine e-RHMIS system. 
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                          25                                        23.2          
                                                           20.1             21.4     19.6     21.2     20.6 
                          20     18.5    18.8     18.7                                                         17.4              16.9     18.4    18.1      18 
                                                                     13                                                 15.3 
                          15     10.8             11.1     11.6             12.6     11.8     12.9     12.6    11.3     11.1     10.8     10.8    10.7     10.9 
                                         10.5 
                          10     5.4      5.4               6.1     6.2      6.1      5.5      5.7     5.8      6.1      6.7              5.7      5.5      5.7 
                     
                             
                             
                     
                     
                     
                     
                     
                                                        Percentage of underweight infants (Moderate + Severe) :: 
                                                        Percentage of underweight young children (1-2years) (moderate + severe) :: 
                     
                                                        Percentage of underweight (moderate + severe) preschoolers (2-5 years) :: 
                     
                        Figure 1 – Percentage underweight among infants, young children and preschoolers (January 2021- 
                                                                                   March 2022) 
                      Similar nutrition status was seen in a recent study conducted by the MRI which revealed 
                      following. 
                     
                     
                                      Figure 2 – Prevalence of wasting and overweight in children 6-59 months in age 
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