Healthy nutrition
UNICEF works on strengthening capacities through training and education of health professionals, in alliance with other sectors and community participation
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Challenges
By 2024, health professionals, together with other sectors and communities in selected provinces, will have more capacity to promote better feeding practices for healthy nutrition, with an emphasis on pregnant women, early childhood and children aged 6 – 12 years, even in emergency situations.
There has been an increase in the prevalence of anaemia and obesity (double burden of disease) as risk factors with an impact on non-communicable chronic diseases at an early age. At the same time, low rates of exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life and incorrect practices in the timely introduction of foods (complementary feeding) have been identified.
In addition, families, caregivers, pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers display incorrect practices, cultural patterns and feeding habits, and there are information gaps on the nutritional status of schoolchildren and adolescents.
Strategies
UNICEF works on strengthening the capacities of primary health care professionals, through an alliance with other sectors and community participation, in order to improve breastfeeding practices and prevent anaemia, overweight and obesity by promoting healthy feeding practices and habits, advocacy, communication for development and education.
Information gaps on the nutritional status of children and adolescents are addressed with a gender approach. Meanwhile, intersectoral integration studies are carried out jointly with the education sector to prevent obesity and overweight and replicate the experience of nutrition during emergencies.