The International Malnutrition Task Force: A model for the future?

Abstract

BackgroundThe International Malnutrition Task Force (IMTF) of the International Union of Nutritional Sciences was set up as an advocacy and capacity-building initiative in 2005 at a time when malnutrition contributed to 60% of deaths among children under-five, and when a reduction in under-five mortality by two-thirds had been set as Millennium Development Goal 4. Findings and conclusionsBy forging partnerships through regional networks of academics, and linking with international agencies and non-governmental organizations, IMTF was able to increase awareness of the urgent need to address the prevention and treatment of child malnutrition. With modest funding, but a common purpose, partners initiated capacity building efforts to reduce high inpatient mortality rates among children admitted with severe malnutrition. In all regions, these initiatives catalysed scaling-up of the WHO 10-step treatment guidelines, resulting in substantial improvements in child survival. Many lessons were learned during this process including the importance of operational research, supervision and teamwork, political commitment, and the potential of eLearning. By establishing alliances between academics, health professionals, policy makers, and national and international paediatric and nutrition societies through a Task Force, we suggest that similar benefits might accrue in other fields, including childhood cancer and school feeding.