REGIONAL REPORT on NUTRITION SECURITY in ASEAN Volume 2
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REGIONAL REPORT ON NUTRITION SECURITY IN ASEAN Volume 2 REGIONAL REPORT ON NUTRITION SECURITY IN ASEAN Volume 2 This work is a product of ASEAN, UNICEF, and WHO, with support from the EU/UNICEF Maternal and Young Child Nutrition Security Initiative in Asia (MYCNSIA) The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was established on August 8, 1967. The Member States of the Association are Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam. The ASEAN Secretariat is based in Jakarta, Indonesia. ©2016 ASEAN The ASEAN Secretariat 70 A Jalan Sisingamangaraja, Jakarta 12110, Indonesia Tel: +62-21-724-3372 www.asean.org ©2016 UNICEF/EAPRO East Asia and Pacific Regional Office, 19 Phra Atit Road, Bangkok 10200, Thailand Tel: +66 2356 9274 www.unicef.org/eapro This report was printed by United Nations Children’s Fund EAPRO under the EU/UNICEF MYCNSIA programme. The findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed in this work do not necessarily reflect the views of ASEAN or its Member States, UNICEF, the World Health Organization (WHO) or its committees. All reasonable precautions have been taken by ASEAN, UNICEF and WHO to verify the information contained in this publication. However, the published material is being distributed without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied. The responsibility for the interpretation and use of the material lies with the reader. In no event shall ASEAN, UNICEF or WHO be liable for damages arising from its use. The boundaries, colours, denominations, and other information shown on any map in this work do not imply any judgment on the part of ASEAN, UNICEF or WHO concerning the legal status of any territory or the endorsement or acceptance of such boundaries. Financial support This document has been produced with the financial assistance of the European Union and UNICEF. The views expressed herein can in no way be taken to reflect the official opinion of the European Union or UNICEF. Rights and permissions The material in this work is subject to copyright. Because ASEAN and UNICEF encourage dissemination of its knowledge, this work may be freely quoted or reprinted, in whole or in part, for non-commercial purposes as long as full attribution to this work is given. Requests for permission to reproduce or translate UNICEF publications, and any queries on rights and licenses, including subsidiary rights, should be addressed to the Office of the Publisher, UNICEF/EAPRO East Asia and Pacific Regional Office, 19 Phra Atit Road, Bangkok 10200, Thailand, Tel: +66 2356 9274 and ASEAN, ASEAN Secretariat 70 A Jalan Sisingamangaraja Jakarta 12110 Indonesia, Telephone: +62-21-724-3372. This document is available online at http://www.unicef.org/eapro/12205_22043.html Suggested citation ASEAN/UNICEF/WHO (2016). Regional Report on Nutrition Security in ASEAN, Volume 2. Bangkok; UNICEF. Photo credits cover: ©UNICEF/UNI75615/Estey (hand washing) ©UNICEF/UNI82478/Vink (student watering garden) ©UNICEF/UNI182598/Pirozzi (child breastfeeding) ©UNICEF Cambodia (man feeding a child) ©Ministry of Health Brunei Darussalam/Kolinmo Yumni Abdullah (small group discussion on breastfeeding ) ©UNICEF2016 Printed in Bangkok, Thailand, March 2016. Message from the ASEAN SECRETARIAT The establishment of the ASEAN Community in December 2015 came at a time of unprecedented peace and prosperity in the region, with ASEAN achieving key milestones in all its three mutually-reinforcing pillars. Underlying ASEAN’s strong economic performance is a healthy populace that will continue to fuel its growth and sustainability in the years to come. For this purpose, comprehensive initiatives have been undertaken by the ASEAN Health sector to ensure food and nutrition security at both national and regional levels that will achieve a Healthy ASEAN. Through appropriate advocacies and mechanisms as well as joint health initiatives, in cooperation with the ASEAN Dialogue Partners, external parties and stakeholders, ASEAN Member States have endeavoured to include health in all relevant policies and address health implications in the pursuit of economic progress and political stability. Health interventions in the food and agricultural regulatory sectors are of critical importance to ensure nutrition security. Efforts to localize and implement activities that are nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive should be undertaken, according to the needs in each ASEAN Member State and the region as a whole. Implementing programmes to ensure healthy lifestyles must be enhanced as ASEAN further consolidates its inclusive, people-oriented, people-centered community-building process. As ASEAN Member States implement key policies and programmes consistent with the ASEAN Post 2015 Health Development Agenda from 2016 to 2020, raising awareness on nutrition security in ASEAN through evidence-based documents is imperative. This publication will serve as a reliable reference in further shaping the ASEAN health cooperation in nutrition, in pursuit of a healthy, caring, and sustainable ASEAN Community. Le Luong Minh Secretary-General of ASEAN Regional Report on Nutrition Security in ASEAN Volume 2 v Message from UNICEF The East Asia and Pacific region is one of the most economically and culturally diverse regions in the world. The ten countries that comprise the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) reflect this diversity, and are united in a model of regional cooperation that is essential to progress in the 21st century. The last few decades have seen notable progress in economic growth and food security, but many families and children still face significant barriers to prosperity, health, and reaching their full potential. In 2014, ASEAN and UNICEF produced the Regional Report on Nutrition Security, Volume 1. In that volume, we compiled trends and evidence on a wide range of nutrition, health, and food security indicators for ASEAN member states. In Volume 2, we now synthesize that evidence, summarize the causes of all forms of malnutrition, review the latest global and regional evidence of what works to prevent malnutrition, and present case studies of successful programmes in each Member State. UNICEF is particularly concerned about the nearly 18 million stunted (chronically malnourished) children in the region who will never reach their full potential for growth, learning or earning; the four million severely wasted (acutely malnourished) children who have a 12 times higher risk of death than non-wasted children; and the rapidly growing number of overweight and obese children who’s risk of diet-related disease will bring personal and financial costs to them, their families, and the health care systems that serve them. Fortunately, all of these forms of malnutrition can be prevented when sufficient political will enables the necessary coordinated actions: food security, adequate health care, clean water and sanitation, education on healthy choices and lifestyles, and poverty reduction. To support those actions, this report is a comprehensive technical resource, and offers practical solutions for programme directors and managers. It also provides convincing evidence for policy makers that investing in nutrition is essential and has very high human, social and economic returns. Last year, all ten ASEAN member states, along with 183 other countries worldwide, adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Good nutrition is embedded in many of those Sustainable Development Goals, including those related to hunger, health, education, water and sanitation, poverty, women’s empowerment, and sustainable management of natural resources. Indeed nutrition security requires efforts of all stakeholders in multiple sectors, and this Regional Nutrition Security Report Volume 2 signifies ASEAN member states’ commitment to act broadly to ensure one of the most fundamental rights of children – the right to food and nutrition. We know what works to improve nutrition, and now is the time to invest and act, to enable the full potential of future generations. Daniel Toole Director UNICEF East Asia and the Pacific Regional Office Regional Report on Nutrition Security in ASEAN vi Volume 2 Message from the WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION Asian nations have made remarkable progress in economic and social development over the last two to three decades. This is also reflected in the achievement of Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 1 target on reducing hunger and malnutrition by many ASEAN Member States. In the last decade, promotion of good nutrition as central to development has received increased political attention in the ASEAN region. Entering the era of the post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals, and working towards the Global Nutrition and Noncommunicable Disease (NCD) Targets endorsed by the World Health Assembly, greater effort is needed by all to end all forms of malnutrition. In the ASEAN region, malnutrition encompasses undernutrition as well as overweight and obesity, with the presence of micronutrient malnutrition running through both sides of the spectrum. There are great variations in the nutritional status within and among ASEAN Member States. Some Member States have a higher burden of undernutrition while others face a greater burden of overweight and obesity and diet- related NCDs; all face an increasing double burden of malnutrition. ASEAN, UNICEF, and WHO Western Pacific and South-East Asia regions have therefore combined their efforts to provide this evidence-based