KRI PRESS |
Oct 1, 2019
Tackling Micronutrient Deficiency: Causes and Solutions
Although the rates of undernutrition in Malaysia have improved since Independence, unfortunately there is still a relatively high prevalence of chronic undernutrition, underweight, stunting and wasting among children and households in parts of Malaysia. Khazanah Research Institute (KRI) today hosted a discussion session titled “Tackling micronutrient deficiency: Causes and solutions”.
Micronutrient deficiencies pose a greater threat but is frequently neglected. Iron-deficient anaemia, especially in pregnant women, and calcium deficiency are at worrying levels, as well as Vitamin D and folate deficiencies. Malaysia’s nutrition programs and policies have evolved over the years to deal with changing perceptions of the nutrition challenges of the day. Post-independence nutrition programs focused on improving the living conditions of rural populations who constituted about 70% of the Malaysian population at the time, including school feeding programs and programs for malnourished children. But we need to ask, are we doing enough to tackle this problem? If not, what else can we or should we do to finally solve the issue of undernutrition affecting our country?
This event was held after the recent release of the “Addressing Malnutrition in Malaysia” report by Professor Dr Wan Manan Wan Muda, Dr Jomo Kwame Sundaram and Tan Zhai Gen. The report provides an overview of the nutrition status of Malaysians and policy options to address both micronutrient deficiencies (of vitamins and minerals such as iron and calcium) and diet-related non-communicable diseases (such as diabetes and those causing obesity). The Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, other relevant government ministries and agencies have to work together to more effectively tackle this issue in the future and ensure a more holistic National Nutrition Strategy is provided that will lead to better enabling environments, policy programs and options which will ultimately improve nutrition for future generations.
The session brought together participants from government ministries, agencies, researchers and civil society to debate and discuss approaches to tackling the problems faced with combating micronutrient deficiencies throughout Malaysia.
Micronutrient deficiencies pose a greater threat but is frequently neglected. Iron-deficient anaemia, especially in pregnant women, and calcium deficiency are at worrying levels, as well as Vitamin D and folate deficiencies. Malaysia’s nutrition programs and policies have evolved over the years to deal with changing perceptions of the nutrition challenges of the day. Post-independence nutrition programs focused on improving the living conditions of rural populations who constituted about 70% of the Malaysian population at the time, including school feeding programs and programs for malnourished children. But we need to ask, are we doing enough to tackle this problem? If not, what else can we or should we do to finally solve the issue of undernutrition affecting our country?
This event was held after the recent release of the “Addressing Malnutrition in Malaysia” report by Professor Dr Wan Manan Wan Muda, Dr Jomo Kwame Sundaram and Tan Zhai Gen. The report provides an overview of the nutrition status of Malaysians and policy options to address both micronutrient deficiencies (of vitamins and minerals such as iron and calcium) and diet-related non-communicable diseases (such as diabetes and those causing obesity). The Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, other relevant government ministries and agencies have to work together to more effectively tackle this issue in the future and ensure a more holistic National Nutrition Strategy is provided that will lead to better enabling environments, policy programs and options which will ultimately improve nutrition for future generations.
The session brought together participants from government ministries, agencies, researchers and civil society to debate and discuss approaches to tackling the problems faced with combating micronutrient deficiencies throughout Malaysia.
related to this event
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