National Nutrition Strategy 2017 - 2021.

This National Nutrition Strategy is a comprehensive document aiming to improve the nutritional status and health of the population through a sustainable, multi-sectoral approach, aligning nutrition goals with national public health and food security priorities. Its overarching aim is to reduce malnutrition in all its forms, prevent diet-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs), and foster healthy eating behaviours across all age groups by strengthening nutrition systems, policy frameworks, public awareness, and supportive food environments. The Strategy is based on the following pillars (i) sustainable food systems for healthy diets; (ii) aligned health systems providing universal coverage of essential nutrition actions; (iii) social protection and nutrition education; (iv) trade and investment for improved nutrition; (v) enabling food and breastfeeding environments; (vi) review, strengthen and promote nutrition governance and accountability.
The objectives of the Strategy are to (i) improve maternal, infant, and young child nutrition by (1) achieving a 50% reduction in anemia among women of reproductive age, and (2) increasing the rate of exclusive breastfeeding (from birth to six months) to at least 50%; and (ii) reduce morbidity and mortality from non-communicable diseases (NCDs) by promoting healthy diets and physical activity, including (1) a 10% relative reduction in the prevalence of insufficient physical activity, (2) a 30% relative reduction in average population salt intake, and (3) a 2.4% reduction in obesity prevalence among children aged 5–17 years. To achieve these objectives, the Strategy prioritizes (i) eliminating harmful dietary components in the national food supply, such as industrial trans fats, while promoting healthier food options; (ii) supporting healthy diets through food system measures, including front-of-pack traffic light labeling, nutrition education programs, and reformulation of processed foods; (iii) strengthening nutrition surveillance systems; (iv) creating supportive environments through school- and workplace-based initiatives; (v) promoting breastfeeding; and (vi) reducing salt and sugar consumption. The Strategy further emphasizes multi-stakeholder collaboration among government ministries, health authorities, and private sector partners to ensure coordinated implementation. Overall coordination is led by the Ministry of Health and Prevention, in collaboration with the education, agriculture, and municipal sectors.