Various studies have highlighted the consequences of episodes of severe acute malnutrition on child development. ACF aims at improving the survival and physical well-being of infants and children in emergencies or facing extreme poverty. ACFs activities have extended to provide mental health support and to protect and foster child development. This addition is in response to the growing evidence that nutritional deficiencies, high incidence of infections (e.g. malaria) associated with poverty, unsatisfied basic social emotional needs and stress derived from natural or man-made disasters and emergencies have serious detrimental developmental effects. By extending the scope of activities, ACF has identified the need to elaborate methodologies to screen and target the children whose development is at-risk.
