19 August 2017 – Why is good nutrition so important in the first 1,000 days? Mothers and their families attend nutrition event in Yangon to find out from nutrition specialists.
Mothers and their families attended an event in Yangon today aimed at educating the public on the importance of good nutrition for mother and baby during the first 1,000 days of life.
In Myanmar, one child in three is stunted, meaning their growth is below average because of poor nutrition during the first 1,000 days – from pregnancy to age two. Stunting has long term harmful effects on children and adults, including diminished mental and physical capacity and poor health. Stunting also costs the country because of lost opportunities and high health costs.
The UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) Country Director Dr Gail Marzetti said in her opening speech at the event that the Global Nutrition Report 2015 estimates that countries with a high level of stunting lose 3-11 per cent of their gross domestic product (GDP) per year because of stunting. For Myanmar this is USD 1.9 billion -6 billion.
“Good nutrition for all children in Myanmar would be transformational for the country,” Dr Marzetti said.
“When children receive good nutrition in the first 1,000 days they are 10 times more likely to overcome childhood disease, are likely to complete at least four more grades at school and are likely to receive 21 percent more wages as an adult,” she said.
A panel discussion at the event informed the audience about the importance of nutrition for pregnant women and their babies. Panel members were Dr May Khin Than, Director of the Ministry of Health and Sports’ National Nutrition Centre; Daw Thelma Htun Thein, Nutritionist, and U Saw Eden, Nutrition Advisor to the LEARN project, funded by the Livelihoods and Food Security Trust Fund (LIFT).
Dr May Khin Than said good nutrition for pregnant mothers and their babies had far reaching effects including better health in adulthood, longer life expectancy and a more productive Myanmar.
Dr May Khin Than told the audience that pregnant women needed to eat more when they were pregnant and needed to eat a variety of nutritious foods from the food groups, including meat, fruits and vegetables.
Daw Thelma Htun Thein explained the importance of exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of a baby’s life. She said babies in the first six months needed only breast milk. She explained to the audience how to breastfeed correctly and answered questions from the audience about how to manage breastfeeding when mothers returned to work.
After the panel discussion the audience enjoyed puppet shows about good nutrition presented by the Myanmar Professional Social Workers Association and took part in quizzes.
The event was organized jointly by the Three Millennium Development Goal Fund (3MDG Fund) and the Livelihoods and Food Security Trust Fund (LIFT).
LIFT and 3MDG work closely together on nutrition projects, including maternal and child cash transfers. These projects support families to have good nutrition by giving a small amount of money each month while a women is pregnant. This is accompanied by health education sessions.
About the organisations
The event was co-hosted by the Three Millennium Development Goal Fund (3MDG) and the Livelihoods and Food Security Trust Fund (LIFT). Both organisations are hosted by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS).
The Livelihoods and Food Security Trust Fund (LIFT) is a multi-donor fund established in 2009 to increase the resilience and sustainable livelihoods of people in Myanmar. Improving the nutrition of women and children is an important part of LIFTS’s work.
LIFT’s activities lead to improved food security, helping people to cope better with shocks and setbacks. We promote agricultural commercialisation, climate smart agriculture, financial inclusion, business and skills development, and targeted nutrition support for mothers and children.
LIFT donors are the United Kingdom, the European Union, Australia, Denmark, France, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden, Switzerland and the United States of America. From the private sector, the Mitsubishi Corporation is a donor.
Together with the Government of Myanmar and other partners, the 3MDG Fund strengthens the national health system at all levels, extending access for poor and vulnerable populations to quality health services. The 3MDG Fund has a significant, timely and nationwide impact improving maternal, newborn and child health, combating HIV and AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, and health system strengthening to deliver sustainable, efficient, and responsive healthcare across Myanmar.
By pooling the contributions of seven bilateral donors - Australia, Denmark, the European Union, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States of America, 3MDG promotes the efficient and effective use of development funds. With commitments totalling more than $284 million for the period July 2012 to December 2017, it is currently the largest health fund in Myanmar.
