Top UN official urges world leaders to boost efforts for better nutrition

The head of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) today urged leaders of countries to work together and step up efforts to boost nutrition, saying it is “nearly criminal” not to act to ensure that all children have enough food.

“We need to be sure we do not lose an entire generation of children whose brains are smaller than they should be because of under-nutrition,” WFP Executive Director Josette Sheeran said in a statement.

“We now know that the effects of under-nutrition are irreversible if a child under two years old does not receive enough nutritious food,” she stated.

“This makes it nearly criminal for the entire world not to act together to counter it.”

Ms. Sheeran said world leaders should declare, ‘not on my watch,’ and implement programmes to fight under-nutrition. Equally important is to invest in nutrition technology and delivery mechanisms in poor countries.

In addition, it is important to harness the skills and expertise of the public health community to establish the most cost-effective interventions, as well as to partner with the private sector and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and work together to address under-nutrition among children.

She noted that WFP has adopted a new strategy that reformulates its entire approach to nutrition, in which it will prioritise children under two and pregnant and lactating mothers. “This is a revolution in the way we do business,” said Ms. Sheeran.