At the end of the Nutrition Promotion Month, LIFT facilitated a discussion between the National Nutrition Center (NNC) and Members of Parliament about the Multi-sectoral National Plan of Action on Nutrition (MS-NPAN) in Nay Pyi Taw on 27 August. NNC of the Ministry of Health and Sports is the custodian of MS-NPAN development. The plan plays an important role to “reduce all forms of malnutrition in mothers, children and adolescent girls”. Support from MPs for the implementation of the MS-NPAN at the sub-national level and in conflict-affected states and regions is crucial. LIFT called for the Pyithu Hluttaw and Amyothar Hluttaw to ensure that nutrition needs are reflected in the development plans and budgets and urged MPs to connect multiple sectors and promote an enabling policy environment.
The origins of the MS-NPAN date back to 2017, when the State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi convened the first-ever Inter-Ministerial Coordination Meeting on Nutrition. In 2020, the plan is moving towards implementation - to improve the lives of the most nutritionally vulnerable communities in Myanmar. Dr Lwin Mar Hlaing, Acting Director of NNC opened the discussion of the MS-NPAN with an update on the implementation of the plan and called for MPs to support the allocation of resources to make it a sustainable success. The latest discussion of the MS-NPAN, which was born out of the collaboration between five Ministries led by NNC, brought together representatives of several parliamentary committees. Critically, the support of various groups in Parliament will be essential for the MS-NPAN to achieve its goals.
MPs recommended using various communications channels to transmit the information about the MS-NPAN to local authorities at the state and regional level. They also expressed their commitment to participate in the MS-NPAN process and called for closer collaboration with the Government, States and Regions, and development partners. Targeted budget allocation, in close engagement with States and Regions, will be essential to transform the lives of children, households and communities. For that to happen, resource mobilization to support budget allocation for implementation of the plan will be important for the sustainability of the MS-NPAN. Approaching nutrition from multiple angles, MPs actively discussed the convergence of interventions and services at the community, household and individual level.
Dr. San San Aye, Director General of the Department of Social Welfare said: “We will continue our support for the successful and accelerated implementation of the MS-NPAN. I would like to thank LIFT for funding the Maternal and Child Cash Transfer programme in Chin State and the EU for supporting the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation with the development of the Nutrition Sector Reform Contract.” She also suggested the Ministry of Health and Sports recruits nutritionists in every township to provide nutrition and healthy diet advice to the community.
Dr Johann H Hesse, LIFT Fund Board Member and Charge d’ Affaires and Head of Cooperation at the Delegation of the European Union to Myanmar said: “Improving the nutrition of Myanmar’s people is a major priority for the European Union and for LIFT. Together, we will support the continued attachment of crucial staff to support the National Nutrition Centre under the Ministry of Health and Sports as well as Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation, Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement, and Ministry of Education.
Our support will now also extend to the state level, specifically in Kachin, Kayin and Kayah. And we will continue to promote the improvement of food and nutrition security through our other multi-sectoral programmes. As Myanmar continues to prevent, protect and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, nutrition remains central and the MS-NPAN presents a useful and relevant framework.” For more photos of the event - Here
