Nepal Initiatives on Nutrition

Implementation of nutrition programmes and interventions have historically been led by the health sector. The health sector in Nepal is guided by the Interim Constitution, which has provisioned health as the fundamental right for every citizen.

The 2014 National Health Policy translates the constitutional provisions by ensuring access to basic health services especially by the poor and marginalized population. It has also made important directions towards nutritional well-being via utilization and promotion of quality and nutritious foods generated from community level to fight against malnutrition.

Health Sector Strategy, which came into effect in 2004, focused on providing efficient, equitable and quality health and nutrition services by reforming the organization and providing cost-effective and priority interventions.

After the Breast Milk Substitutes Act of 1992 and the Global Strategy for IYCF 2002, Government of Nepal (GoN) reinforced its approach to protect, promote and support IYCF (Infant and Young Child Feeding), which is well reflected in the National Nutrition Policy and Strategy 2004. The strategy underscores the provision of nutrition services through health sector to address the problem of malnutrition, particularly among women and children.

It is interesting to note that Nepal adopted a multisectoral approach for nutrition way back in the late seventies when the first National Nutrition Policy and Strategy was formulated in 1978. It identified four sectors: Agriculture, education, health and local development.

Nutrition Assessment and Gap Analysis (NAGA) was undertaken to provide the synthesis of information necessary to develop a detailed multisector Nutrition Action Plan for the next five years.

Thus, in 2012, GoN, in form of Multisector Nutrition Plan (MSNP), has shown a strong commitment to accelerating the interventions for sustained reduction of undernutrition with the focus on first 1000 days. It involves key sectors like health, agriculture, education, WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene), local development, and women and children.