Cambodia National Nutrition Strategy 2009-2015.

This Cambodia National Nutrition Strategy 2009-2015 aims to contribute to reduced maternal and child morbidity and mortality by improving the nutritional status of women and children in Cambodia. It is based on, among other things, the Cambodia Millennium Development Goals by 2015. The Strategy focuses specifically on priority nutrition interventions that are amenable to the actions of the Ministry of Health. In addition, the strategy highlights the importance of strengthening linkages to other sectors beyond health via advocacy and development of partnerships in areas relevant to nutrition.
Concerning helping eliminate malnutrition, the national nutrition strategy seeks to provide a clear focus and long term direction to the National Nutrition Program and development partners. Section 2 provides a summary of the 2008 analysis of the nutritional status, trends and causes in Cambodia. The key health challenges prioritized in the strategy are maternal and young child undernutrition, including deficiencies of vitamin A, iron, iodine and zinc. The three key results to be achieved are identified as: 1. Reduction in protein-energy malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies in young children; 2. Reduction in protein-energy malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies in women; 3. Strengthened national leadership, cross-sectoral collaboration and increased allocation of resources in the area of food security and nutrition. In addition, nutrition in relation to HIV, nutrition in emergencies, and nutrition diseases are also addressed.
The Strategy recognizes that reduction in malnutrition will help to accelerate poverty reduction. For increased investments in nutrition, there is an urgent need to put nutrition on the agenda of senior policy makers and the society at large. The successful establishment of community-based nutrition activities will require mobilizing local authorities and other community structures in support of nutrition. Awareness and capacity of the village chiefs, commune councils and district/provincial authorities will be built to ensure greater support to nutrition during local planning and budgeting processes, as well as during implementation and monitoring of social services provided by them. Key strategic approaches include: strengthening community involvement in nutrition activities and improving individual and family practices on maternal, infant and young child feeding and general nutrition; increasing availability of information for policy makers and program planners through improved monitoring, evaluation and research;strengthening multi-sector linkages, improving the collaboration with concerned government structures/civil society and enhancing the consideration of nutrition in overall strategies, and sector plans and programs.