Year: 1995 - 2016

Child Malnutrition in Nepal A history of malnutrition rates and major global events and actions taken by the Government of Nepal to address malnutrition in Nepali schools. What happened in 1995? In 1995, the communist government dissolved and the radical leftist group, the Nepal Community Party (Maoist), began an insurrection in rural regions of the country aimed at abolishing the monarchy and establishing a people's republic, sparking a conflict that would lead to a decade long civil war. What happened in 1996? Rome Declaration on World Food Security and World Food Summit Plan of Action. Countries pledged their action and support for the Action Plan and reaffirmed the right of everyone to have access to safe and nutritious food, consistent with the right to adequate food and the fundamental right of everyone to be free from hunger. What happened in 1998? The 1988 Nepal earthquake occurred near the India border and the magnitude 6.9 earthquake shook the region, killing at least 709 persons and injuring thousands. The government of Nepal is one of the world’s poorest countries, with alarmingly high malnutrition rate. Frequent natural disasters, such as earthquakes, often exacerbate food insecurity, taking their toll on livelihoods. What happened in 2001? The McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program is a food aid program that was officially authorized in the 2002 Farm Bill which provides U.S. agricultural commodities and financial and technical assistance to carry out preschool and school feeding programs across the world. In addition to improving nutritional status of school children, the program is also credited with improving school attendance, especially among girls, who were more likely to be allowed to attend school if a meal was being provided. What happened in 2006? Nepalese civil war ended and the new government created the national School  Health and Nutrition Strategy, the first comprehensive national policy to address malnutrition in Nepali school   children. This strategy began a pilot school health nutrition project began in primary schools in two district with support from the Japan International Cooperation Agency that provides a basic the provision of daily school meals, deworming tablets, iron folic acid supplementation, and annual health checkups in schools.   What happened in 2011? Nepal joined Scaling Up Nutrition, a global movement that unites national leaders, civil society, bilateral and multilateral organizations, and donors in a collective effort to improve nutrition. In 2011, Nepal also began a nutrition program, Suaahara, which integrates nutrition, hygiene, agriculture, family planning, reproductive health and child health activities, focusing on the first 1,000 of life. What happened in 2014? Government of Nepal implemented the Multi-sector Nutrition Plan (MSNP) to accelerate the reduction of maternal and child under nutrition. and created a Joint Action Plan for School Nutrition. In 2014, the World Food Programme Office in Nepal began a $26 million McGovern- Dole school meals program that targets over 550,000 school children with daily school meals and activities to promote improved health and nutrition. What happened in 2016? Implementation of school health nutrition services hindered because of recovery efforts following the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that hit Nepal in 2015. However, the National Planning Commission in the Government of Nepal committed to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, specifically goal #2 to end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and food promote sustainable agriculture. Stunted Underweight Wasted Severe Wasted Overweight Timeline Percentage of children under age five that suffer from malnutrition 100% 75% 50% 25% 0%