National Nutrition Strategy 2009-2015

The Impact of Undernutrition

• 35% of all child deaths are attributable to undernutrition, making it the largest single contributor to child mortality

• 1 out of 5 maternal deaths are attributable to undernutrition

By ending undernutrition in Cambodia,

in one day we can save the life of one mother…

…and 29 children under the age of five.

Undernutrition during childhood can:

• Cause child mortality and morbidity• Make a person permanently short• Permanently retard brain development• Weaken the immune system and increase the

chance of contracting disease

The average height of a Japanese man born around 1850 was 1.55 meters;

present day the average height is 1.72 meters

• Increase the severity of disease

• Reduce ability to learn

• Decrease the amount of money a person earns as an adult

• Increase the chance of suffering from chronic disease later in life

Question: How long does it take to count to 300 million

one dollar at a time?

Answer: Almost ten years

Cambodia is losing ~$300,000,000 every year because of undernutrition… that equals three stacks

Undernutrition before or during pregnancy can:

• Increase the risk of a mother dying while giving birth

• Lead to premature births

• Cause birth defects

• Reduce the size of a newborn child

• Make a newborn child undernourished• Increase the risk of a newborn dying

2008 Lancet Serieson Maternal and ChildUndernutritionhighlights 14 interventions to beimplemented in all countries and 11 Interventions forSpecific contexts

The National Nutrition Strategy has objectives related to 10 of the 14 interventions for all countries; and 2 of the 11 context specific interventions.

With the exception of zinc supplementation, all of the interventions showing the most promise are included in the strategy

The Cambodia Millennium Development Goals Gap Analysis states that it is still possible to reach CMDG1, if changes occur…

• Scaling up interventions in the National Nutrition Strategy is the change needed to achieve multiple Cambodia Millennium Development Goals.

• Improvements in nutrition will lead to reduced poverty/hunger (CMDG1), reduced child mortality (CMDG4), and improved maternal health (CMDG5).

• Better nutrition will also have an impact on universal basic education (CMDG2) and combating disease (CMDG6)

Thank you for your attention.

Cambodian Constitution

Article 48-The State shall protect children from acts

that are injurious to their education opportunities, health and welfare.

Article 72-The health of the people shall be

guaranteed. The State shall give full consideration to disease prevention and medical treatment.