CA-NEWS (TJ) – Malnutrition remains a major problem for public health and development in Tajikistan, said Laily Moshiri, the representative of UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Dushanbe on Tuesday.
It is estimated that nearly one in three children in Tajikistan is considered undersized for his/her age, and about half of deaths from malnutrition among children under 5 years is associated with chronic malnutrition.
The World Bank and UNICEF have summed up the situation analysis to improve economic performance by expanding nutrition programs in Tajikistan. The report evaluates the effects of malnutrition to health in terms of mortality and years of life expectancy adjusted for disability in Tajikistan. It also provides a calculation of the potential benefits for the population and the economy as a whole, which can be obtained by increasing investment in the sphere of nutrition in Tajikistan.
Despite the drop in infant mortality rates over the last decade in Tajikistan, 35% of 7,676 deaths of children under 5 years in 2011 was caused by malnutrition.
The report indicates that the expansion of the key points in the food sector could allow the country to get at least $ 10 million in future economic benefits arising from the performance and size of the labor force in Tajikistan.
via CA-NEWS : Malnutrition of children remains important problem for development in Tajikistan, UNICEF.