Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone addresses the Lao PDR 2nd Human Capital Summit at the National Convention Centre on Wednesday. - Vientiane Times/ANN
VIENTIANE: The government has announced a renewed commitment to tackling malnutrition, recognising that proper nutrition in a child’s first 1,000 days of life will determine a person’s development and health status in future years.
The reiteration of this commitment came during the Lao PDR 2nd Human Capital Summit held in Vientiane on Wednesday (June 26), with the theme “Accelerated Nutrition Actions for Human Capital Development”.
The meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone and brought together leaders and experts to discuss strategies for improving nutrition and investing in the future of Laos.
The Prime Minister opened the event by highlighting the importance of nutrition as the basis of a strong and resilient economy, noting the government’s commitment to improving nutrition outcomes, building human capital, and ensuring economic growth and prosperity.
“The Lao government is strongly committed to implementing comprehensive strategies to tackle malnutrition through a multisectoral approach, from central to local levels and including various stakeholders and development partners,” he said.
The latest data reveals that nearly 33 percent of children in Laos under the age of five are stunted, with impaired growth and development due to chronic malnutrition, while close to 11 percent are affected by wasting, which is when a child is too thin for her or his height.
These conditions lead to chronic diseases, poor school performance, and reduced lifetime earnings.
A child born in Laos today will be only 46 percent as productive as she or he could be with full education and health.
Adequate nutrition, especially in the early years of life, ensures proper brain development.
Unicef Representative to Laos, Pia Rebello Britto, told participants that investment in nutrition is essential for national growth.
“Laos’ economic stability and future growth depend on the actions we take today,” she said.
“In these challenging times, it’s more crucial than ever to ensure that every dollar, every kip, is spent wisely.
"An investment in child nutrition is an investment in the nation’s future.
"We need to focus on interventions that deliver the greatest impact, reaching every child, in every corner of the country—today, for a better tomorrow.”
World Bank Human Development Director for East Asia and the Pacific, Alberto Rodriguez, said “Improving nutrition among women and young children requires investment in different sectors, ensuring that mothers and infants receive a package of essential nutrition related services, along with robust monitoring systems.”
The summit concluded with a government commitment to prioritise nutrition in the upcoming 10th National Socio-economic Development Plan.
The government pledged to develop an accelerated action plan led by the Deputy Prime Minister in charge of Cultural and Social Affairs, establish a coordinating unit to oversee implementation, and implement a nutrition budget tagging system to ensure effective investment and resource use.
Backed by the World Bank and Unicef, the summit series focuses on investing in people’s knowledge, skills, and health. The first summit, held in May 2023, focused on education. - Vientiane Times/ANN
