Staff Reporter
To support evidence based-nutrition practices, the Khesar Gyalpo University of Medical Sciences of Bhutan in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and UNICEF inaugurated the Centre of Excellence for Nutrition yesterday.
This state-of-the-art facility, located within the Faculty of Nursing and Public Health, is designed to serve as a hub for innovative research and collaboration among nutrition experts, healthcare professionals, and community leaders.
While Bhutan has witnessed improvement in the child survival and growth indicators, high rates of undernutrition, particularly stunting and micronutrient deficiencies among vulnerable populations persists.
Guests at the inaugural of the Centre of Excellence for Nutrition at the Faculty of Nursing and Public Health in Thimphu
Addressing the immediate and underlying causes of triple burden of malnutrition, especially among children, adolescent girls, and women, is a top priority for the government and partners.
Health Minister Tandin Wangchuk said that the centre will focus on several key areas of advancing nutritional science, promoting public awareness about healthy eating habits, and developing interventions that address the nutritional needs of diverse populations.
“The foundation of a healthy society is built on the principles of proper nutrition, and today, we are taking a significant step toward that goal,” the minister said. “I am excited about the possibilities that lie ahead. Let us embrace the challenges and opportunities that await us as we strive to make a lasting impact on the nutritional landscape of our society.”
According to the National Health Survey, 2023, 5.1 percent of children under five are wasted or too thin for height; 17.9 percent are stunted or too short for their age and 8.8 percent of children under five years are underweight. Anemia is a significant public health concern among children, adolescents, pregnant women and women of reproductive age.
The Centre will produce evidence-based information on nutrition to guide policy and programmatic strategies through specialised research initiatives. The Centre will also serve to enhance technical expertise and knowledge within the nutrition field through a variety of professional development activities.
Besides providing technical support to establish the Centre, UNICEF will also provide technical and financial support for the first two years to conduct agreed activities and stabilize the Centre’s operation.
UNICEF Representative (officiating) Fawzia Hoodbhoy said that UNICEF remains committed to supporting the Royal Government of Bhutan to make this Centre a platform for groundbreaking research, and a cornerstone in the efforts to strengthen health system resilience. “We are confident that this Centre will be a beacon of innovation, a center for knowledge sharing, and a place of collaboration.”
In May this year, the concluding observations of the Committee of the Rights of the Child recommended the government to address malnutrition among children, including stunting, micronutrient deficiencies, overweight and obesity, by allocating sufficient resources for the implementation of the National Nutrition Strategy and Action Plan 2021-2025.
The recommendation also included promotion of proper infant and young child-feeding practices, providing micronutrient supplements to all children and pregnant women, and raising public awareness on good nutrition and benefits of exclusive breastfeeding.