Women and children wait to see a doctor at the Preyvihear Health Centre, in Kampong Speus Chamkah Dong village. Photograph: WHO CAMBODIA

These gains have flowed from focused interventions that have resulted in maternal, infant and under-five mortality falling by more than 50 per cent during the decade from 2000 to 2010.

These are fine achievements, but more needs to be done to improve the nutritional status of children and women.

This has been the focus for government officials, national and international experts, development partners and civil-society representatives who have gathered yesterday and today for the fourth National Seminar on Food Security and Nutrition, with a particular emphasis on maternal and child nutrition.

As UN country representatives, we were encouraged to see this issue prioritised and led by the highest level of government, with Prime Minister Hun Sen opening the seminar.

As Cambodia moves to become a middle-income country in the region, it is important to be aware that economic growth and increased agricultural production will not on their own improve nutritional status.

The Cambodia Demographic and Health Survey (CDHS) shows that 28 per cent of children are underweight.

This is a clear indication that, after impressive gains in child nutrition during the 1990s and early 2000s, the improvement in the nutritional status of children is slowing down.

International evidence tells us that, over time, nutritional shortfalls can have an impact on a countrys human capital the ability of children to learn and the ability of adults to lead productive lives and can reduce GDP by two to three per cent.

Investment in nutrition is an internationally recognised Best Buy to create a productive society that is growing with economic vigour.

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Nutrition a great investment | National news | The Phnom Penh Post - Cambodia's Newspaper of Record