National Food and Nutrition Centre Business Plan 2018 – 2019.

The National Food and Nutrition Centre Business Plan is a national policy with a multi-sectoral approach. The timeframe of the policy is 2 years between 2018 and 2019. The overall purpose of this Plan is to improve the health status of the population through healthy nutrition in conformity with the standards based on equity, integrity, respect for human dignity, responsiveness and customer protection.
This Plan lays down strategies to ensure food and nutrition security of the population of Fiji. Food and nutrition security will be integrated into the plans and programmes of line ministries with a multi-sectoral approach and a policy and plan of action for food and nutrition security will be developed. National committees on food and nutrition security will be established with a multi-stakeholder participation and the coordination between the ministries, civil society groups, and non-governmental and faith-based organizations will be strengthened for the implementation of Plan of Action for Food and Nutrition Security. Nutrition information systems will be developed to provide reliable information to the population and thereby raise their awareness on healthy nutrition. The implementation of Food and Health Guidelines and best practices on fat, sugar, salt reduction will be strengthened to ensure healthy nutrition at the national, local and community level. Moreover, healthy nutrition initiatives will be promoted in schools and healthy diet will be promoted through home gardening. The maternal, infant, child and adolescent health will be protected through nutritional support, promotion of breastfeeding, and regulation on advertising of unhealthy foods and drinks to children. Monitoring and evaluation systems as well as research and innovation will be strengthened to support health systems.
Food and nutrition security will be ensured during disasters and emergencies through strengthened disaster preparedness, response and climate resilience. Contingency plans will be developed for nutrition in emergencies. Moreover, infant and young child feeding practices will be promoted during disasters and emergencies.