NUTRITION-SPECIFIC AND NUTRITION SENSITIVE INTERVENTIONS TO ACCELERATE
PROGRESS
The case for investing in Nutrition is clear because poor nutrition during the first 1000 days from pregnancy through a Childs second birthday can cause life- long and irreversible damage, with consequences at the individual, community and National
level.
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When a child becomes malnourished during this period of 1000 days of life it results in a weaker immune system and a higher risk of severe infectious diseases including diarrhoea and pneumonia. As undernourished children becomes adults, they are more
likely to suffer from chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart diseases and obesity. These health impacts have devastating consequences for social and economic outcomes. Poorly nourished children are more likely to complete fewer
years of school and have lower productivity as adults, including 10% lower earnings over their lifetime.
By improving nutrition, we can build human capital and fuel economic growth for generations to come. However nutrition’s full impact can only be unleashed when all sectors do their part-as shown in the UNICEF conceptual framework .
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Nutrition specific-Interventions will address the immediate causes of under nutrition, like inadequate dietary intake and some of the underlying causes like feeding practices and access to food.
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Nutrition sensitive interventions will address some of the underlying and basic causes of malnutrition by incorporating nutrition nutrition goals and actions from a wide range of sectors, they can also as delivery platforms for nutritionspecific interventions. Achieving nutrition’s full impact on Health and development outcomes requires a multi-sectoral approach.
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Nutrition-specific interventions are key to accelerating progress. However, it is also critical that other sectors like Agriculture, Education and social welfare develop nutrition- sensitive interventions. A truely multi-sectoral approach will achieve optimum nutrition outcomes through greater coverage while also helping other programmes achieve more powerful results and demonstrate theirown potential for impact.