ChildFund in Laos is honored to attend the Seventh Annual Nutrition Forum provided an opportunity for a wide range of nutrition stakeholders to review the achievements and identify priorities for the improvement of nutrition in Lao PDR.

Vientiane, 16 February 2022 – The Deputy Prime Minister of Lao PDR, H.E. Dr. Kikeo Khaykhamphithoune, today chaired the Seventh National Nutrition Forum, which was organised by the National Nutrition Committee. The forum was also cochaired by H.E. Ms. Ina Marčiulionytė, the European Union Ambassador to Lao PDR, and Dr. Pia Rebello Britto, UNICEF Representative to Lao PDR, on behalf of development partners for food and nutrition security in Lao PDR.

This year’s theme for the forum is ‘Nutrition for Growth’, which highlights the inextricable link between investments in nutrition and the growth of children communities and the economy. The forum brought together various nutrition stakeholders, ranging from ministers, deputy ministers and director generals of key line ministries, to Vice Governors, development partners, civil society organisations, mass organizations, members of the academia, the private sector and youth representatives.

“In the previous year, we have worked with the Government to launch the 2021-2025 National Plan of Action on Nutrition (NPAN) and the National Information Platforms for Nutrition (NIPN) Dashboard, as well as to monitor the recent legislation on the protection of breastfeeding through the restriction of marketing and promotion of breast milk substitutes. While these achievements are commendable, we must continue to work together to consolidate our progress by 2 increasing our investments in nutrition, including domestic funding for nutrition, exploring more innovative financing and leveraging other available resources. Strengthening human capacities to provide effective quality services reaching out to the most vulnerable is a condition to fight malnutrition in a sustainable manner”, said the European Union Ambassador to Lao PDR, H.E. Ms. Ina Marčiulionytė.

The Seventh Annual Nutrition Forum was led by the Government of Lao PDR with financial contribution from the European Union, the United States, UNICEF, the World Food Program (WFP) and SUN CSA Laos.

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