HEERLEN, THE NETHERLANDS--(Marketwired - Apr 8, 2013) - As government, medical, academic
and industry representatives gather at the
first regional World Health Summit in Singapore, a group of nutrition
organizations including global non-government organizations and Royal DSM
called
for urgent action to ensure adequate nutrition for children in their first
1,000 days of life.
A third of all children in Asia are stunted, or too short for their age -
a key
indicator of chronic malnutrition. Malnutrition during a child's critical
early
years damages their intellectual and physical development, limiting their
future
economic participation, and increases their vulnerability to
non-communicable
diseases (NCDs) in adulthood. The World Bank estimates that India, where
48% of
children are stunted and over 30% of children are born with a low birth
weight,
loses approximately 3% of annual GDP due to malnutrition.
The nutrition group, which includes World Vision, Save the Children, the
Global
Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), the Essential Micronutrients
Foundation
and industry partner Royal DSM, called on Summit delegates to
commit to
nutrition support as a key input to sustainable health and economic
development
outcomes. It called on governments to promote adequate health and
nutrition for
women of reproductive age, particularly pregnant and lactating women, to
ensure
their children have a head-start in good nutritional status. Through
public-private partnerships, the private sector can support countries
in improving
diets by fortifying staples and making vitamin and mineral
supplements
affordable to the poor.
"The nutritional challenges faced by millions of children across Asia,
coupled
with increased economic inequality, can only be tackled through strong
public-private partnerships. This combination of expertise and
experience, with a
profound sense of responsibility, are the very best tools we have for
ridding
the world of malnutrition," said Stephan Tanda, Managing Board Member of
Royal
DSM, on behalf of the group, adding that it welcomed interest and
participation
from key stakeholders across both sectors.
Singapore's successes in maternal and child health can serve as a
model for
other countries. Since its independence, the country has achieved one
of the
lowest infant and under-five mortality rates in the world. With its
strategic
location and regional hub status in Asia, Singapore can play an important
role
in fostering greater public-private partnerships in the region to
improve
nutrition in the first 1,000 days.
Malnutrition is associated with poor feeding practices and other lack of
access
clean water, sanitation, healthcare, social protection and
initiatives to
empower women. There is compelling evidence connecting maternal
nutrition to
increased risks in their offspring of developing chronic disease,
particularly
diabetes and heart disease, later in life. Both undernutrition and
overnutrition
can have long term adverse effects. Of particular concern is the rapidly
rising
incidence of gestational diabetes and maternal obesity in Asia, which has
major
implications for the next generation.
"Economic growth alone will not solve the world's nutrition problems -
political
leadership is absolutely necessary," asserted the group. "Governments must
understand that investing in both mother and child nutrition, especially in
the
first 1000 days, means investing in their country's economic future."
DSM - Bright
Science.
Brighter Living.™
Royal DSM is a global science-based company active in health, nutrition and
materials. By connecting its unique competences in Life Sciences and
Materials
Sciences DSM is driving economic prosperity, environmental progress and
social
advances to create sustainable value for all stakeholders. DSM delivers
innovative solutions that nourish, protect and improve performance in
global
markets such as food and dietary supplements, personal care, feed,
pharmaceuticals, medical devices, automotive, paints, electrical and
electronics, life protection, alternative energy and bio-based materials.
DSM's
23,500 employees deliver annual net sales of about EUR9 billion. The
company is
listed on NYSE Euronext.
More information can be found at www.dsm.com
Or find us on:
Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN)
Driven by a vision of a world without malnutrition, GAIN was created in
2002 at
a Special Session of the U.N. General Assembly on Children. GAIN supports
public-private partnerships to increase access to the missing nutrients in
diets
necessary for people, communities and economies to be stronger and
healthier.
With a current daily reach of over 667 million people in more than 30
countries,
GAIN's goal is to improve the lives of one billion people by 2015 within
the
most vulnerable populations around the world through access to sustainable
nutrition solutions. Website: http://www.gainhealth.org/
Save the Children
Save the Children is the world's leading independent organisation for
children.
We work in over 20 countries in Asia and 120 countries globally. We seek to
create immediate and lasting changes to the lives of children, in the areas
of
education, health and nutrition, child protection, child rights governance,
HIV/AIDS and in humanitarian crises. In 2011, Save the Children's work
touched
the lives of more than 125 million children around the world. Website:
http://www.savethechildren.net/
Sight and Life
Sight and Life is a not-for-profit nutrition think tank of DSM. We care
about
the world's most vulnerable populations, and exist to help improve their
nutritional status. Acting as their advocates, we guide original nutrition
research, disseminate its findings and facilitate dialog to bring about
positive
change. We believe that the right mix of funding, knowledge, technology and
policy will lead to better health. We work through advocacy and leadership
to
address societal changes affecting dietary quality. We act responsibly to
disseminate information that reflects current knowledge and evolving
scientific
evidence. We also aim to promote partnerships that are able to solve
outstanding
problems.
Website: http://www.sightandlife.org
World Vision
World Vision is a Christian relief, development and advocacy organisation
dedicated to working with children, families and communities to overcome
poverty
and injustice. World Vision works across 23 countries in the Asia Pacific
benefitting 1.2 million children and their communities.
Website: http://www.wvi.org
Press release-pdf:
http://hugin.info/130663/R/1690592/555206.pdf
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originality of the information contained therein.
Source: DSM N.V. via Thomson Reuters ONE
[HUG#1690592]
For more information:
Federico Graciano
(DSM)
Tel. +65 6632 6627Email Contact
Lynette Lim
(Save the Children)
Tel: +65 9186-4946Email Contact
Kristy Allen-Shirley
(World Vision)
Tel: +65 82228696Email Contact
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