National Nutrition Program

 

 National Nutrition Program (According to Annual Report 2075/76, DoHS, Nepal)

·      1973 AD: All edible salt with iodine in Nepal was adopted by MoHP.

·      1979 AD: A comprehensive nutrition program was introduced.

·      1993 AD: The Vitamin A program was started in 8 districts & 1997 in 32 districts

·      1998 AD: Nepal micro-nutrient status survey was done.

·      1999 AD: Deworming of children 2-5 years added with Vitamin A supplementation.

·      2002 AD: Vitamin A program had expanded to all 75 districts.

·      Deworming impact survey conducted in 2003/04 noted that children <2 years.

·      2004 AD: The national nutrition policy and strategy was officially endorsed to address all form of malnutrition.

·      2004 AD: MoHP has lowered the age limit from 2-5 years to 1-5 years deworming.

·      2006 AD: school health and nutrition strategy developed jointly by ministry of health and ministry of education. 

·      2008 AD: CMAM (Community based Management of Acute Malnutrition) program started in 5 districts (Achham, Bardia, Jajarkot, Kanchanpur & Mugu) that covers children aged 6-59 months.

·      School health nutrition program was piloted in 2 districts (Syangja & Sindhupalchowk) from June 2008 to May 2012.

·      2009 AD: Micronutrient supplementation powder (MNSP) started in 2 districts (Parsa and Makwanpur) with the support of UNICEF.

·      2010 AD: SUN (Scale-UP Nutrition) movement.

·      2012 AD: Multisectoral Nutrition Plan was formulated.

·      The Constitution (2015) ensures the right to food, health and nutrition to all citizens.

·      The National Health Policy, 2071 highlights improved nutrition via the use and promotion of quality and nutritious foods generated locally to fight malnutrition.

·      The Nutrition Technical Committee was established in CHD in 2011 AD to support multisectoral coordination for developing nutrition programmes.

·      School Health Nutrition program has initiated weekly Iron & Folic Acid (IFA) supplementation to the adolescent girls aged 10-19 years from FY 2072/73 in 8 districts (Kathmandu, Dolakha, Khotang, Pachthar, Bhojpur, Saptari, Pyuthan and Kapilwastu).

Ø  Goal

To achieve nutritional well-being of all people to maintain a healthy life.

Ø General objective

To enhance nutritional well-being, reduce child and maternal mortality and to contribute for equitable human development.

Ø  Specific objectives

·      To reduce protein energy malnutrition in children under 5 years of age and reproductive aged women

·      To improve maternal nutrition

·      To reduce prevalence of anemia among adolescent girls, women and children

·      To eliminate iodine deficiency disorders and vitamin A deficiency and sustain the elimination

·      To reduce the infestation of intestinal worms among children and pregnant women

·      To reduce the prevalence of low birth weight

·      To improve household food security to ensure that all people can have adequate access, availability and utilization of food needed for healthy life

·      To promote the practice of good dietary habits to improve the nutritional status of all people

·      To prevent and control infectious disease to improve nutritional status and reduce child mortality

·      To control the incidence of life-style related diseases (coronary artery diseases, hypertension, tobacco and smoke related diseases, cancer, diabetes, dyslipidemia)

·      To improve health and nutritional status of school children

·      To reduce the critical risk of malnutrition and life during exceptionally difficult circumstances

·      To strengthen the system for analyzing, monitoring and evaluating the nutrition situation

·      Behaviour change communication and nutrition education at community levels

·      To align the health sector programs on nutrition with multi-sectoral nutrition initiative