An Estimated 60 Million Children Aged 0-5 Years Across South East Asia Region Are Stunted Due To Malnutrition-Dr.Poonam Singh

An estimated 60 million Children aged 0-5 years across the South East Asia Region including in Sri Lanka are reported as stunted ,while 8.8 million are overweight as a result Malnutrition mostly women and girls"according to the World Health Organization's South Ease Asia Regional Director Dr.Poonam Kethrapal Singh.

According to the date revealed during the session on Malnutrition held under the ongoing South East Asia Regional Health Ministers Summit at Galle Face Hotel in Colombo yesterday(07) Thinness affects 24 -47 percent of Adolescent Girls in the region ,while between 2-24 percent are overweight Dr.Singh has stated.Among adult women ,prevalence of overweight or obesity ranges between 18 to 30 percent.

"The Current nutrition profile of the South East Asia Region is characterized by under nutrition rates that are declining slowly alongside rapidly rising rates of overweight and obesity.often within the same communities ,and even in the same house holds.This double burden is depriving people of reaching their potential ,and is fueling rising rates of non communicable diseases .We need to mobilize multisectoral action to address the problem at the earliest" She has stressed.

"As a means of fulfilling the objective of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals Agenda calls for an end to all forms of malnutrition ,after consultations with all member countries in the region,WHO developed the Strategic Action Plan to reduce the Double Burden Of Malnutrition in the South-East Asia Region between 2016-2015 period.This will provide the basis for action moving forward" Dr.Singh has further stated.

Member Countries discussed the trans-generational impact on future generations caused by maternal under nutrition as well as overweight and obesity resulting from inadequate and unhealthy eating eating habits and low physical activity it has been reported.