- बिहीबार, ६ वैशाख, २०८१
Kathmandu, Dec. 31: The National Planning Commission (NPC) has urged the ministries concerned to implement the Multi Sectoral Nutrition Plan (MSNP) in an effective manner.
The Ministries of Education, Urban Development, Agriculture, Health and Population, and Federal Affairs and Local Development are implementing the plan from last year.
At a programme organised by the NPC here today, NPC Vice-Chairman Dr. Rabindra Kumar Shakya urged the ministries concerned to give emphasis on
its effective implementation, saying there would be no financial and technical problems in the implementation of the plan, brought for improving the nutritional status of the mother and children.
Stating that national income could be increased up to three percent if the problem of malnutrition could be ended, Shakya said that the programme should emphasise on the importance of nutrition to end malnutrition.
As per the latest survey carried out by the Ministry of Health and Population, 41 per cent children are suffering from long-term malnutrition.
Children suffer from malnutrition for lack of necessary micro nutrients in the body. As much as 12 per cent of children in the country are still born underweight.
Problems have surfaced in the sector of nutrition as 11 per cent people in urban areas are found eating food more than the required amount and 84 per cent people in rural area are eating the same type of food every day, according to the statistics.
Nepal is one of the countries of the world with low nutrition status.On the occasion, nutrition expert Dr. Ramesh Kant Adhikari, stressed on the need of paying attention to nutritious diet from pregnancy for healthy growth of the fetus.
Stating that only 66 per cent children from six to eight months old have been getting supplementary diet, he said that such diet was also inadequate.
Similarly, Joint-Secretary at the Education Ministry, Mahashram Sharma, said that the topic on the importance of nutrition has been included in school curriculum and arrangements have also been made for providing mid-day meal to children.
Joint-Secretary at the agriculture ministry, Ram Prasad Pulami, said that a special programme has been launched in five districts to inform farmers about nutritious food. The five-year plan has set a goal to reduce malnutrition to 20 per cent. RSS
