Beyond treatment: reframing child wasting prevention and recovery in humanitarian settings

Despite substantial advances in the treatment of child wasting over the past two decades, progress in reducing wasting incidence has remained limited, particularly in humanitarian settings. This commentary argues that global policy must evolve from a predominantly treatment-oriented paradigm toward a more integrated continuum encompassing prevention, early identification, treatment, recovery, and post-discharge support. Drawing on a programme of recent research conducted in Somalia, we highlight four emerging priorities for global policy: strengthening prevention through integrated cash-plus and multisectoral approaches; improving identification of high-risk children by addressing limitations of current anthropometric indicators; recognising relapse as a major programmatic outcome requiring continued support after discharge; and integrating nutrition with broader health, social protection, and humanitarian systems. As humanitarian needs increase while development financing declines, future progress against wasting will depend not only on improving treatment, but also on rethinking how prevention, diagnosis, recovery, and system integration are addressed across the continuum of care.