IntraHealth Presents Malnutrition Reduction Interventions at International Congress on Nutrition

Laxmikant Palo, Senior Technical Advisor with the IntraHealth-led Vistaar Project will give a poster presentation at the 19^th International Congress on Nutrition in Bangkok, Thailand, October 4–9, 2009.

In keeping with the conference theme, “Nutrition Security for All,” the presentation will focus on Nutrition Security in India: A Leadership Agenda for Action. This presentation will provide an insight into advocacy initiatives that led to the publication of the Leadership Agenda for Action. The purpose of this Agenda is to provide the most effective, evidence-based recommendations to Indian program leaders working to improve nutrition security in India. The task force reviewing the evidence included experts from Government ministries, Government apex training institutions, UN agencies and bi-lateral agencies. 

Mr. Palo will summarize the Coalition’s structure, functions and recommendations.

Operational recommendations include:

• Expanded efforts to engage and empower vulnerable communities
• Inclusion of  nutrition outcome indicators and targets in all major missions and programs 
• Focusing on evidence-based, low-cost, high-impact interventions.

Recommendations for improving nutrition for infants and young children include:

•  Every infant starts receiving complementary foods by the beginning of the seventh month of life while breastfeeding continues until 24 months and beyond.
• Every child 6–24 months old is fed age-appropriate, energy and nutrient-dense complementary foods using safe and hygienic practices, with increased quantity, density and frequency of food as the child increases in age.
• Every child is protected against disease, malnutrition and death with full immunization in the first year of life, and bi-annual vitamin A supplementation and deworming in the first five years of life (6–59 months).

• Every child is fed frequently during and after illness, while breastfeeding continues. Children with diarrhea receive appropriate rehydration therapy and zinc supplementation.

Recommendations for improving nutrition for girls and women are:

• Improve quantity and quality of food and nutrient intake (especially during childhood, adolescence, pregnancy and lactation)
• Prevent and manage micronutrient deficiencies (particularly anaemia in adolescent girls and women)
• Improve access to safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene.

Funded by USAID, the Vistaar Project assists the Government of India and the State Governments of Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh in taking knowledge to practice for improved maternal, newborn and child health and nutritional status. More information about the project is available here.