Women and children wait to see a doctor at the Preyvihear Health Centre, in Kampong Speus Chamkah Dong village. Photograph: WHO CAMBODIA <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
These are fine achievements, but more needs to be done to improve the nutritional status of children and women. <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
The Cambodia Demographic and Health Survey (CDHS) shows that 28 per cent of children are underweight. <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
Investment in nutrition is an internationally recognised Best Buy to create a productive society that is growing with economic vigour. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
View original post here: Women and children wait to see a doctor at the Preyvihear Health Centre, in Kampong Speus Chamkah Dong village. Continue reading
\nNutrition a great investment | National news | The Phnom Penh Post - Cambodia's Newspaper of Record<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"