Efforts stepped up against malnutrition
The South East Asian region accounts for 70 per cent of the world's
malnourished children and these children have high mortality rates,
Regional Director , WHO South East Asia Dr. Samlee Plianbangchang told a
bi-regional meeting on 'Scaling up Nutrition' organized by the WHO in
collaboration with the Health Ministry in Colombo last week.
Dr. Plianbangchang said malnutrition in childhood diminishes
intellect ability and reduce their work capacity in adulthood.
This situation leads to economic and social hardships for individuals
as well as families and development capacity as a consequence.'
The meeting inaugurated under the patronage of Health Minister
Maithripala Sirisena was an effort by experts in concerned sectors and
relevant discipline to combine wisdom and coordinate efforts to scale up
nutrition and ensure well being of populations in these two regions
South East Asia and Western Pacific, especially of the mothers and
children.
It was convened as a follow up to the 63rd World Open Health Assembly
in 2010 where member States were urged to increase political commitment
for prevention and control of all forms of malnutrition.
The meeting further exchanged views on issues involved in the
critical areas of nutrition and to promote action on 'maternal, infant
and young child nutrition implementation plan'.
"Infants who experience early growth retardation in life are at a
higher risk at young age of having chronic diseases like high blood
pressure, diabetes and cardiovascular and metabolic diseases," WHO
Regional Director added.
She said stunting is an indicator of chronic malnutrition and in the
region in children aged below 5 years, stunting ranges up to 55% .
Under nutrition was also identified as a serious but neglected public
health problem in the two regions.
The meeting was told that these deaths could be prevented by a
systematic and comprehensive application of available nutrition
interventions. Representatives from UNICEF, FAO, WFP and WHO attended
the meeting.
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