OTP Discharge Criteria in CMAM programme

Dear readers,

The ‘WHO- 2013 guidelines updates on the management of severe acute malnutrition in infant and children’ recommended beloow discharge criteria;

•  weight-for-height/length is ≥–2 Z-score and they have had no oedema for at least 2 weeks,
• or -mid-upper-arm circumference is ≥125 mm and they have had no oedema for at least 2 weeks.

My fellow colleagues could you please share your experience, if you are practicing the WHO’s 2013 recommended discharge criteria to discharge children (6-59 months old) from your OTP? Or you are using the old discharge criteria which is:

• weight-for-height/length is≥ -3 Z -score and they have had no oedema for at least 2 weeks,
• or — mid-upper-arm circumference is ≥115 mm and they have had no oedema for at least 2 weeks,

We are applying the old discharge criteria, but if resource permits we may follow WHO  2013 recommended criteria.  But before we move in, we need to know global practices. For example, Malawi, Somalia and Afghanistan national CMAM guidelines followed WHO recommendation in their guidelines but in practice which discharge criteria are you using currently.

Looking forward to hear from you.

Thanks,