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VI.
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
61. The prevalence of specific nutritional deficiencies, particularly of vitamin A, iron and iodine, in the Region remains high. Research and technology have provided solutions to the problems. Many countries of the Region have implemented substantial intervention programmes to combat these deficiencies, but commitment to a comprehensive strategy, with all its essential components, is an urgent requirement. Human and financial resources will have to be mobilized to implement these country-specific measures, measures that will necessarily involve sectors such agriculture, health, education and industry.
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62. In undertaking action programmes to overcome specific nutritional deficiencies, reduce nutrition imbalances and improve nutritional status at regional, national and sub-national levels, governments need to be aware of and should take into consideration the following recommendations:
a)
b)
c)
d)
Nutrition in Agriculture Planning
Include nutrition improvement as an explicit objective of food and agricultural development policies and plans.
Agriculture based activities should be directed towards increasing production and availability of a diversity of food crops, especially those rich in vitamins and micronutrients, and promoting their consumption by the nutritionally at-risk.
Nutrition Surveillance
Conduct routine assessments of the food and nutrition situation through the operation of a food and nutrition surveillance system. Such a surveillance system is necessary for improved targeting and design of nutrition policies and plans and for evaluating the effectiveness of food distribution systems.
Training and Education
Emphasize training and upgrading of nutrition professionals at all levels as well as developing community-level workers skills in tackling nutritional problems.
The role of nutrition education programmes and awareness compaigns for improving public knowledge of nutritional needs. and desirable diets and ways to better utilise existing food and other resources to achieve this.
Food Fortification
Adapt existing food fortification technologies (the addition of certain minerals or vitamins to key foods, including some staples) to the conditions of the Region and strengthen quality control mechanisms during the fortification process at production and government levels.
63. The discussion of this agenda item will form the basis for food and nutrition policy recommendations for the Asia and Pacific Region. These will provide the guidance needed to formulate action programmes, and to mobilize resources, when the proposed FAO/WHO International Conference on Nutrition meets in 1993.
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