Lao PDR Hosts Launch of Four ASEAN Guidelines and Minimum Standards on Nutrition

Vientiane, Lao PDR, 7 August 2024 - Lao PDR in partnership with UNICEF hosted today the launch of four essential ASEAN Nutrition Guidelines and Minimum Standards, which will to support the member states in the region adopt comprehensive strategies and interventions for nutrition service delivery grounded in global best practices and evidence. 

These guidelines were launched at a side event at the 16th ASEAN Health Ministers Meeting, hosted by the Government of Lao PDR with support of UNICEF in its capital of Vientiane as part of its ASEAN chairmanship this year. The guidelines represent a major step forward in standardizing and enhancing the delivery of nutrition services across ASEAN.

The event was convened by representatives from Lao PDR’s Ministry of Health (MoH), the ASEAN DSG of Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) ASEAN Secretariat, and UNICEF East Asia and Pacific Regional Office (EAPRO). Additionally, development partners and distinguished guests from the ASEAN Health Ministers Meeting (AHHM) alongside, Senior Officials Meeting on Health Development (SOMHD), Agriculture and Forestry (SOMAMAF) and Education (SOMED) were in attendance. Furthermore, each ASEAN lead guideline development member state also gave their endorsement remarks accompanied by a ceremonial ribbon cutting to the celebrate the guidelines launch.

“The launch of these guidelines demonstrates Lao PDR's commitment to ending all forms of malnutrition in women and children,” stated H.E. Dr Bounfeng Phoummalaysith, the Minister of Health for Lao PDR. “We are proud to lead the development of the guidelines on Mandatory Implementation of Large-Scale Food Fortification and co-lead the Maternal Nutrition Guidelines. This event marks a truly important milestone in our collective efforts.”

The ASEAN region has made steady progress in reducing childhood malnutrition. However, further progress is needed to fulfil the commitments set by the ASEAN Leaders Declaration to End All Forms of Malnutrition, adopted in 2017. The launch of these guidelines is a crucial step towards revitalizing efforts to develop national nutrition programmes of the necessary quality and scale. Moreover, these efforts align with the region's goals and contribute to meeting the broader objectives of the Sustainable Development Goal 2 aimed at ending all forms of malnutrition by 2030.

UNICEF, as a key technical partner, has supported the ASEAN member states in operationalizing the ASEAN leader's commitment to ending malnutrition by leading the development of Guidelines and Minimum Standards. To date, ASEAN, with support from UNICEF, has previously launched two other nutrition guidelines and minimum standards documents on the protection, promotion and support of breastfeeding and complementary feeding and actions to protect children from the harmful impact of marketing of food and non-alcoholic beverages. The additional four newly launched guidelines mark an ongoing collaboration between ASEAN and UNICEF to support member states in adopting comprehensive strategies and interventions for nutrition service delivery, which are grounded in global best evidence and practices.

In her remarks, Ms. June Kunugi, Regional Director of UNICEF EAPRO, emphasized the imperative to address malnutrition in the ASEAN region. “We face an unfinished agenda, needing to address undernutrition and micronutrient deficiencies while curbing rising rates of overweight and obesity.” She further highlighted the collaboration between UNICEF and ASEAN, saying that “it has been a privilege for UNICEF to collaborate with the ASEAN Secretariat and Member States on these Guidelines and Minimum Standards. UNICEF – both its East Asia and Pacific Regional Office and its network of Country Offices – remains steadfast in supporting ASEAN Member States in implementing these guidelines to improve to improve their current programmes' quality and scale.”