Comprehensive implementation plan on maternal, infant and young child nutrition

This report by the World Health Organization outlines six global nutrition targets for 2025. It adopts a multidimensional approach to global nutrition challenges, emphasising their multiple links with maternal and newborn ill-health and survival. The implementation plan consists of six global targets to be achieved by 2025 and five priority action areas, as recommended by the World Health Organization.The six global nutrition targets for 2025 are:

1. Stunting: 40% reduction of the global number of children under five who are stunted
2. Anaemia: 50% reduction of anaemia in women of reproductive age
3. Low birth weight: 30% reduction of low birth weight
4. Overweight: no increase in childhood overweight
5. Breastfeeding: increase the rate of exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months up to at least 50%
6. Wasting: reduce and maintain childhood wasting to less than 5%

The global breastfeeding target requires an increase from the current estimated global average of 37% (2006-2010). This equates to around 10 million additional infants being exclusively breastfed for the first six months of their life.The report also outlines five accompanying ‘actions’ to help achieve the global nutrition targets. These include specific activities for MemberStates, the Secretariat, and international partners. The five actions orientate around:

1. A supportive environment for the implementation of nutrition policies
2. The inclusion of all nutrition-related health interventions in national nutrition plans
3. Integration of nutrition with development policies and programmes outside the health sector
4. Provision of sufficient human and financial resources
5. Monitoring and evaluation of policies and programmes

The report recommends countries to apply this implementation plan to improve maternal, infant and young child nutrition. It suggests that the five actions should be adapted to specific contexts and jointly implemented by national and international stakeholders.To read the report, click here.World Health Organization. (2014). Comprehensive Implementation Plan on Maternal, Infant and Young Child Nutrition. Geneva: WHO.