Minister Paudel proposes co-work to fight malnutrition

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Mar. 31: Minister for Health and Population, Pradeep Paudel, has proposed collaborating with an American charity to reduce malnutrition among pregnant women and newborns in Nepal.

Minister Paudel, who is in Paris, France to participate in a world conference on nutrition, made this request during talks with William Moore, CEO and Research Director of the American aid organisation Eleanor Crook Foundation, at the Nepali Embassy in Paris, informed the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) in a statement.

“In Nepal, pregnant women are currently given iron pills. However, experts say that although they contain iron and folic acid, they are deficient in 15 other nutrients. The government is preparing to replace the iron pills currently being given with a mixture of all 15 deficient nutrients to reduce malnutrition in both pregnant women and newborns,” read the statement. 

The American charity has responded positively to Minister Paudel's request for cooperation in this regard. It said that an agreement could be reached shortly to study the additional budget needs of the government, said the Ministry. 

"We are trying to identify resources to ensure that maternal and child health care does not weaken due to financial constraints," Minister Paudel said. "This dialogue is a part of that. We are excited about the discussions."

Dr. Bivek Kumar Lal, head of the Family Welfare Division, who was in Minister Poudel’s delegation, said that a blueprint has been developed for collaboration within a few months. He said that positive initiatives have been taken to improve maternal and child malnutrition in Nepal.

The organisation has also responded positively to Minister Paudel's request to collaborate with the Nepali industry in the production of nutrient-rich ingredients.

    Dr. Lal said that improvements in this area are of great significance as the role of nutrients provided to pregnant women is crucial in reducing maternal and infant mortality due to malnutrition in Nepal.