National Multisectoral Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases 2016-2020.

The National Multisectoral Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases is a national policy with a multi-sectoral approach. The timeframe of the policy is 5 years between 2016 and 2020. This Policy aims at ensuring the highest attainable standards of health and productivity to populations at every age and eliminating barriers to well-being or socioeconomic development, by reducing the preventable and avoidable burden of morbidity, mortality and disability due to non-communicable diseases with multi-sectoral collaboration and cooperation at national level.
In order to enhance increased intake of healthy foods, healthy diet high in fruit and vegetables and low in saturated fat/trans-fat, free sugar and salt will be promoted by: (i) increasing availability of fruit and vegetables and of healthy foods low in salt, sugar and fats; (ii) developing and implementing a national salt reduction strategy; and (iii) taking measures to reduce trans-fat in processed foods. The implementation of the diet component of the Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health will be accelerated. Furthermore policies will be developed to promote availability of healthy food, to increase the affordability of healthy food, and on marketing of food and non-alcoholic beverages to children. Maternal and child nutrition will be promoted with special attention to breastfeeding and school feeding. A mechanism will be established for consumer protection. Food labelling will be introduced with nutrition composition and traffic light system to indicate unhealthy foods. The food based dietary guidelines will be revised and disseminated. Moreover capacity building of health workers will be ensured and awareness programs will be conducted for pre-school teachers, school children, teachers, parents, youth, university students, community groups on food based dietary guidelines. Obesity management will be improved to promote healthy lifestyle to control obesity among school children.