Organisations see need to prioritise child nutrition in Asia

At the first regional World Health Summit in Singapore attended by government, medical, academic and industry representatives, a group of nutrition organisations called for urgent action to ensure adequate nutrition for children in their first 1,000 days of life.

Research shows that one-third of all children in Asia are too short for their age, which indicates chronic malnutrition. Lack of nutritious foods during a child's critical early years damages their intellectual and physical development. This will eventually reduce their future economic participation, and increase their vulnerability to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in adulthood. The World Bank estimates that India, where 48% of children are stunted and over 30% of children are born with a low birth weight, loses approximately 3% of annual GDP due to malnutrition.

The nutrition group, which includes World Vision, Save the Children, the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), the Essential Micronutrients Foundation and industry partner Royal DSM, called on Summit delegates to commit to nutrition support as a key input to sustainable health and economic development outcomes. It called on governments to promote adequate health and nutrition for women of reproductive age, particularly pregnant and lactating women, to ensure their children have a head-start in good nutritional status. Through public-private partnerships, the private sector can support countries in improving diets by fortifying staples and making vitamin and mineral supplements affordable to the poor.

"The nutritional challenges faced by millions of children across Asia, coupled with increased economic inequality, can only be tackled through strong public-private partnerships. This combination of expertise and experience, with a profound sense of responsibility, is the very best tools we have for ridding the world of malnutrition," said Stephan Tanda, managing board member of Royal DSM, on behalf of the group, adding that it welcomed interest and participation from key stakeholders across both sectors.

Singapore's successes in maternal and child health can serve as a model for other countries. Since its independence, the country has achieNIKE AIR FORCE