Background: The community management for acute malnutrition (CMAM) was started in 2012 with the aim to
impact the lives of a large number of children suffering from acute malnutrition without any cost. Objective: The
study aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of the CMAM program on severe acute malnutrition (SAM) and
moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) treatment. Methods: Children aged 6 to 59 months were screened for
malnutrition in a complementary compulsory screening program. Acutely malnourished children underwent free
medical and nutritional treatment. Evaluation of the CMAM program implementation was performed by
comparison with paid services by collecting data from malnourished children’s parents. Results: From the 64458
screened children, 835 were diagnosed as new acutely malnourished cases and referred to health centers for
treatment. The anthropometric parameters (MUAC, weight, height) have significantly improved from the time of
admission to the end of treatment. Performance indicators using the Sphere standards were above the expected
level for outpatient treatment but for inpatient treatment, it failed to meet the expected standard. Poverty and the
use of traditional medicine to treat malnutrition, distance, availability, and cost of transportation to the health
center were significant barriers to the continuation of healthcare services. Conclusion: The CMAM program is
effective. It covered and allowed the treatment of several children presenting the number of pathologies reducing
children's morbidity and mortality. In order to increase children’s nutritional status, it will be helpful to work
with traditional healers.

acute malnutrition, effectiveness, screening, malnourished children, ready to use therapeutic foods, ready to use supplementary foods