New EU policy to improve nutrition across the world and save millions of lives
The European Union steps up its efforts to fight against world hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition. This is the goal of a new policy, just adopted by the European Commission, which aims to improve the nutrition of mothers and children in order to reduce mortality and diseases, as well as the impediments to growth and development caused by under-nutrition.
The new policy, set out in the Communication “Enhancing Maternal and Child Nutrition in external assistance: an EU policy framework” will be presented on 14 and 15 of March at the Scaling up Nutrition (SUN) Movement meeting in Brussels.
Commissioner for development, Andris Piebalgs stated: "Undernutrition is the biggest threat to people’s health in the developing world, causing at least one third of all child deaths, and a fifth of mothers. This shocking and shameful reality calls for an improved, global and decisive response. The EU is firmly committed to reduce by 7 million the number of stunted children by 2025. Increased international mobilisation is vital. That’s why, today, I am also calling on other major donors and development actors to join us in this global movement and make their own commitments”.
To read the press release: http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-13-221_en.htm
To read the factsheet on nutrition: http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-13-205_en.htm
