The government has launched Multi Sector Nutrition Plan (MSNP) 2013-2017 to improve maternal and child nutrition in Nepal.
The National Planning Commission (NPC) launched the MSNP Thursday with an aim of eliminating chronic under nutrition in women and children.
The plan of improving maternal and child nutrition and reducing chronic malnutrition, is prepared by five government agencies under the leadership of NPC in collaboration with their development partners.
The government bodies involved include Ministry of Health and Population, Ministry of Agriculture and Development, Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development, Ministry of Urban Development and Ministry of Education.
Under the plan, the government aims to reduce in more than 20 percent of current prevalence rates of chronic malnutrition over the period of 5 year. Similarly, it also aims to enhance multi-sector collaboration and coordination, strengthening multi-sector monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to track progress, financial and human resources as well as identifying gaps and future needs to ensure the commitment and capacity to implement it in a sustainable manner, according to NPC.
The government has decided to implement the plan in six districts including Jumla, Bajura, Achham, Kapilvastu, Parsa and Nawalparasi in the first phase.
The government also aims to cover all the 75 districts in the next five years of implementation of the MSNP.
According to the Demographic Health Survey (2011), 41 percent Nepali children under five suffer from chronic malnutrition also known as 'stunting'. Some 46 percent aged between six and 59 months are anaemic.
The government has estimated that around 150 million US dollars will be required for the plan. nepalnews.com
