Kyrgyzstan hosted the National Forum on Food Security and Nutrition. UNICEF reports.
The event organized by the Ministry of Agriculture was attended by 80 members from the regional representatives of SUN — a multi-stakeholder nutrition platform.
«Participants discussed the country’s nutrition commitments made at the Nutrition for Growth Summit in Tokyo in December 2021, as well as effective actions to implement the National Food Security and Nutrition Program 2019-2023,» the statement says.
Deputy Minister of Agriculture Nurlan Sheripov reminded the participants of the republic’s global commitments.
«In Tokyo, Kyrgyzstan pledged to fight all forms of malnutrition to eradicate the problem by 2030. These commitments are also reflected in the National Program for Food Security and Nutrition in the Kyrgyz Republic for 2019-2023. This is a key priority for the government,» he said.
It is noted that UNICEF, together with the UN World Food Program, is promoting the SUN platform in Kyrgyzstan in order to unite all stakeholders by common efforts.
«Good nutrition is a vital investment in the future of children and lays the foundation for a nation’s economic development. Healthy nutrition promotes children’s growth, stimulates brain development and strengthens their learning potential.
However, according to 2018 data, 12 percent of children in Kyrgyzstan suffer from stunting in the first years of life.
Only 46 percent of babies under 6 months old are exclusively breastfed,» said UNICEF Representative in Kyrgyzstan Christine Jaulmes.
Kyrgyzstan has been a member of the global SUN platform since 2011. This platform brings together government authorities, civil society, UN agencies, businesses and academic community.
