The plan prepared by the National Planning Commission (NPC) aims to reduce existing prevalence rate of malnutrition by a third in the next five years. [break]
Five key ministries and their development partners have been collaborating to implement the plan. Under the plan, the Ministry of Health and Population will focus on intervention to improve nutrition of mothers, infants and young children and the Ministry of Education will work to improve education, life skills and nutrition status of adolescents.
Likewise, the Ministry of Urban Development aims to reduce diarrhea among vulnerable groups by increasing access to safe water and adequate sanitation and the Ministry of Agriculture will increase the availability of nutrient-rich food for poorest mothers and young children.
Addressing the function held at Singha Durbar, Prime Minister Bhattarai said that the government has recognized chronic malnutrition as a major nutrition problem in the country. Dr Bhattarai also expressed his commitment to work to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDG).
According to Demographic Health Survey, 41 percent of children in Nepal suffer from chronic malnutrition. Malnutrition occurs when the body does not get enough vitamins, minerals and other nutrients it needs to maintain healthy tissues and organ functions.
Experts say both undernourished and over-nourished people can suffer from malnutrition. Poor access to adequate food, poor feeding care practices, limited health services and to safe and sanitation are the underlying causes of malnutrition.
Malnutrition increase risk of mortality in the early stages of infancy and childhood.
The government said that the plan will be initially implemented in twelve districts in the most disadvantaged areas and will be gradually scaled-up.
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