On November 29, 2018, the 5th Global Nutrition Report – the world’s leading publication on the state of global nutrition - was launched alongside the Accelerating the End of Hunger and Malnutrition conference in Bangkok, Thailand. The report tracks progress on global nutrition targets ranging from diet-related non-communicable diseases to maternal, infant, and young child nutrition.
This year’s report provides an overview of progress made and highlights solutions from around the globe calling on all stakeholders to address malnutrition, a universal issue that holds back development in many countries around the globe.
The report confirms that significant steps are being made to address malnutrition. Globally, stunting among children under five years of age has fallen from 32.6 percent in 2000 to 22.2 percent in 2017. There has been a slight decrease in underweight women since 2000, from 11.6 percent to 9.7 percent in 2016. Yet, progress has been slow. The 2018 report reveals that only 94 of 194 countries are on track for at least one of the nine nutrition targets assessed.
To translate solutions into action, the report’s authors urge five critical steps: (1) Breaking down existing silos to tackle malnutrition in all its forms; (2) Prioritizing and investing in data to identify key areas of action; (3) Scaling up and diversifying funding for nutrition programs; (4) Galvanize action on healthy diets by making healthy foods affordable for all, and (5) Implementing more ambitious commitments that are designed for impact.
The Global Nutrition Report classifies Malawi as experiencing two forms of malnutrition – anemia and stunting. While the country has made some progress in reducing stunting, little has been achieved so far to combat anemia.
Visit the Global Nutrition Report 2018 website to learn more.
