IMPORTANT? NUTRITION · efficient nutrition-related approaches into the key development strategies...

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WFP STRATEGIC PRIORITY IN THE KYRGYZ REPUBLIC: SUSTAINABLE IMPROVEMENT OF NUTRITION ADEQUATE NUTRITION IS ESSENTIAL FOR THE WELLBEING OF MOTHER AND CHILDREN, AND ACHIEVING SUSTAIN- ABLE DEVELOPMENT WHY IS NUTRITION IMPORTANT? Malnutrition is a problem of staggering proportions with significant negative consequences that affect individuals and societies across the globe. More than two billion people are affected with micronutrient deficiencies, causing more deaths each year than AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis combined. Globally, one in four children are stunted meaning they are not reaching their full cognitive and physical potential. About 13% of children under five years old are malnourished, which characterizes the chronic malnutrition in the Kyrgyz Republic. About 35% women of reproductive age and 43% of children aged 6-59 months are anemic, which lowers their productivity, physical and cognitive development. Undernutrition, particularly vitamin A, zinc and iron deficiencies, is among top 10 causes of deceases. In the Kyrgyz Republic, about 6 percent of population are estimated to be suffering of chronic malnutrition, according to Global Hunger Index. Children will reach their full adult potential only if they receive proper nutrition in the first 1,000 days of life. Poor nutrition during this important window can lead to stunting, and have irreversible development impacts on the child. The devastating impacts of undernutrition culminate to cost two to three percent of the global GDP, about US$1.4-2 billion a year, enough to significantly undermine national development objectives. According to the World Bank, the burden of undernutrition in the Kyrgyz Republic is substantial in economic terms as it costs the economy about US$32 million annually through lost productivity resulting from increased mortality and reduced cognitive and physical development. Malnutrition-caused losses can be prevented through micronutrient fortification investments, including the following: 100% salt iodization can increase productivity up to US$500,000 per annum and reduce iodine deficiencies; Micronutrient premixes can reduce anaemia among children of 6-24 month by 20% and increase productivity up to US$1.2 million annually; Expansion of the existing de-warming exercise will increase productivity up to US$450,000 annually. Evidence shows that every dollar invested in nutrition-specific interventions bring at least a 15-dollar return in social and economic benefits. In the Kyrgyz Republic, for every 1 som invested in nutrition, there is a 16-som return. approach to manage food security and nutrition- related programmes, and the national SUN activities, the UN network has initiated a mapping of all nutrition-related activities, programmes and key stakeholders in the Kyrgyz Republic to develop a consolidated action plan. WFP in the Kyrgyz Republic: Bishkek, 720040 150 Panfilov Street Phone: +996 312 66 00 33 [email protected] www.wfp.org www.wfp.org/ru Osh, 723500 12 Michurin Street Phone: +996 3222 4 70 31 [email protected]

Transcript of IMPORTANT? NUTRITION · efficient nutrition-related approaches into the key development strategies...

Page 1: IMPORTANT? NUTRITION · efficient nutrition-related approaches into the key development strategies and policies of the Kyrgyz Republic, including the National Food Security and Nutrition

WFP STRATEGIC PRIORITY IN THE KYRGYZ REPUBLIC: SUSTAINABLE IMPROVEMENT OF NUTRITIONADEQUATE NUTRITION IS ESSENTIAL FOR THE WELLBEING OF MOTHER AND CHILDREN, AND ACHIEVING SUSTAIN-ABLE DEVELOPMENT

WHY IS NUTRITION IMPORTANT?Malnutrition is a problem of staggering proportions with significant negative consequences that affect individuals and societies across the globe. More than two billion people are affected with micronutrient deficiencies, causing more deaths each year than AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis combined. Globally, one in four children are stunted meaning they are not reaching their full cognitive and physical potential.

About 13% of children under five years old are malnourished, which characterizes the chronic malnutrition in the Kyrgyz Republic. About 35% women of reproductive age and 43% of children aged 6-59 months are anemic, which lowers their productivity, physical and cognitive development.

Undernutrition, particularly vitamin A, zinc and iron deficiencies, is among top 10 causes of deceases. In the Kyrgyz Republic, about 6 percent of population are estimated to be suffering of chronic malnutrition, according to Global Hunger Index.

Children will reach their full adult potential only if they receive proper nutrition in the first 1,000 days of life. Poor nutrition during this important window can lead to stunting, and have irreversible development impacts on the child.

The devastating impacts of undernutrition culminate to cost two to three percent of the global GDP, about US$1.4-2 billion a year, enough to significantly undermine national development objectives.

According to the World Bank, the burden of undernutrition in the Kyrgyz Republic is substantial in economic terms as it costs the economy about US$32 million annually through lost productivity

resulting from increased mortality and reduced cognitive and physical development.

Malnutrition-caused losses can be prevented through micronutrient fortification investments, including the following:

• 100% salt iodization can increase productivity up to US$500,000 per annum and reduce iodine deficiencies;

• Micronutrient premixes can reduce anaemia among children of 6-24 month by 20% and increase productivity up to US$1.2 million annually;

• Expansion of the existing de-warming exercise will increase productivity up to US$450,000 annually.

Evidence shows that every dollar invested in nutrition-specific interventions bring at least a 15-dollar return in social and economic benefits. In the Kyrgyz Republic, for every 1 som invested in nutrition, there is a 16-som return.

approach to manage food security and nutrition-related programmes, and the national SUN activities, the UN network has initiated a mapping of all nutrition-related activities, programmes and key stakeholders in the Kyrgyz Republic to develop a consolidated action plan.

WFP in the Kyrgyz Republic:Bishkek, 720040150 Panfilov StreetPhone: +996 312 66 00 [email protected]/ru

Osh, 72350012 Michurin Street Phone: +996 3222 4 70 [email protected]

Page 2: IMPORTANT? NUTRITION · efficient nutrition-related approaches into the key development strategies and policies of the Kyrgyz Republic, including the National Food Security and Nutrition

WFP’s Role to Improve Food Security and Nutrition WFP works to ensure that nutritionally vulnerable household members (for example pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, young children, adolescent girls, the chronically ill) can access the right food at the right time in the right way.

WFP supports governments to design and implement programme and policy solutions to nutrition issues, and directly reaches more than 10 million women and children with nutrition-specific interventions annually.

Nutrition cuts across all WFP work, and WFP makes sure to provide nutritionally appropriate food to the people we serve. WFP’s field presence gives an advantage in tackling undernutrition.

WFP is an active participant and strong supporter of the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement, which has galvanized country-level commitment to reducing malnutrition.

What WFP Does to Improve Food Security and Nutrition?WFP focuses on introducing effective and efficient nutrition-related approaches into the key development strategies and policies of the Kyrgyz Republic, including the National Food Security and Nutrition Programme (2015-2017), to ensure sustainable access to sufficient and nutritious food for all. In particular, WFP prioritizes the following activities:

Addressing Micronutrient DeficienciesStaple food fortification with micronutrient premixes is a part of the cost-effective strategy to address deficiencies. WFP works with the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic and private sector partners to promote food fortification. The Government of the Kyrgyz Republic has adopted a Law on mandatory wheat flour fortification and works with state-owned and private millers to ensure fortified wheat flour is available, particularly, for the vulnerable groups.

Nutrition Awareness RaisingWFP supports nutrition awareness and nutrition education so communities, particularly vulnerable groups, can improve their nutrition practices. The Ministry of Healthcare of the Kyrgyz Republic with support from WFP, UNFPA, Embassy of Switzerland and GIZ has conducted a survey on the ‘Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices on Micronutrients Among Adolescent Girls, Pregnant Women and Nursing Mothers’ to identify gaps and develop recommendations on raising awareness on better nutrition and micronutrients. Following the survey, WFP supports the Ministry of Healthcare of the Kyrgyz Republic to review the existing educational materials on nutrition and design nutrition modules aimed at supporting nutrition education and behavior change interventions through schools and health centres.

Integrating Nutrition Across WFP Programmes WFP aims to improve the nutrition-sensitive focus of all its programmes, including safety nets activities, income-generating and vocational education. Based on the WFP’s Food Security Outcomes Monitoring for 2015, adequate food consumption levels of the households in the WFP’s pilot communities have increased from 70% to 90%.

Capacity Building and Development of Evidence Base on Nutrition

WFP provides technical assistance and advice to develop and implement national food security and nutrition strategies and relevant nutrition programmes. WFP contributed to develop the National Food Security and Nutrition Programme (2015-2017), the first inter-sectoral strategic document aimed at creating an enabling environment for the improved import and export of food commodities as well as to ensure that the most vulnerable populations have sustainable physical and economic access to food.

WFP is a co-chair (along with UNICEF) and a strong supporter of the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) movement in the Kyrgyz Republic, which aims to reduce chronic undernourishment and malnutrition. Recognizing the criticality of a coordinated