A multi-sectoral response to malnutrition

Malnutrition is not just about food, or just about health care, but is an issue that requires a mlti-sector response. 

Ensuring good nutrition for Cambodian children is not the task of just one group or government ministry. Instead, it involves the activities of a wide range of groups and government bodies working together to achieve results.

For example, children can receive the nutritious foods, but poor environmental sanitation can lead to diarrhoea and other childhood infections which limit their ability to absorb nutrients from the food, resulting in a vicious cycle of malnutrition and disease.

A multi-sector approach to nutrition puts the onus on society all as whole to take on the responsibility of addressing malnutrition by:

  • Increasing agricultural production
  • Improving education, especially for girls
  • Including understanding of good nutrition in school curricula
  • Improving safe water supplies
  • Improving governance and primary health care facilities
  • Increased consumption of fortified foods
  • Ensuring legislation around food production and advertising is upheld, and
  • Ensuring all government activities promote and protect the progress being made on malnutrition in Cambodia.