How do simplified approaches improve the continuum of care?

Hi Fadhel,

Simplified approaches aim to increase the efficiency, effectiveness, coverage, and quality of programmes for wasted children with much of the current ongoing research efforts focused on testing this. They can also be used as short-term stop-gap options in emergency settings or in places with difficult access or product supply issues.There's more information on this on the State of Acute Malnutrition Community of Practice introduction page here:https://www.acutemalnutrition.org/en/Simplified-Approaches-Introduction.

The recent ENN Field Exchange Special Edition 60 on Continuum of Care for Children with Wasting (https://www.ennonline.net/fex/60/en) features some great articles showing some examples of where simplified approaches have improved the continuum of care. There are many but I'd recommend:

1. The FEX Editorial that includes a discussion on simplified and combined approaches: https://www.ennonline.net/fex/60/extendededitorial
2. An overview of regional perspectives on simplified approaches in West & Central Africa (UNICEF): https://www.ennonline.net/fex/60/simplifiedapproachesinafrica
3. Simplified Approaches for Treatment in Nigeria (MSF): https://www.ennonline.net/fex/60/simplifiedapproaches
4. The ComPAS study in South Sudan and Kenya (IRC and ACF): https://www.ennonline.net/fex/60/compastrialsouthsudankenya
5. Testing an adapted SAM treatment protocol in Somalia (IRC): https://www.ennonline.net/fex/60/treatmentprotocolsomalia
6. Decision-making on use of simplified/combined protocols in Nigeria, Niger, Somalia and South Sudan (IRC): https://www.ennonline.net/fex/60/acutemalnutritionprotocols

There are many other great articles on both the State of Acute Malnutrition Community of Practice and the Field Exchange edition that highlight how these approaches are being tested and what expected improvements to the continuum of care are expected in each country and context.

Best,