H. E. Mr. Amjad Hussain B. Sial, Secretary General of SAARC, addressed the Inaugural Session of the Regional Conference on Scaling-up the Nutritional Care of Women in South Asia in Kathmandu on 07 May 2018 as the Chief Guest.

 

Devoted to the theme, “Stop Stunting – Power of Maternal Nutrition”, the Regional Conference was co-hosted by SAARC and UNICEF.

 

In his address at the Inaugural Session, the Secretary General welcomed the participation of over 120 delegates from the region and other parts of the world. Touching upon the theme of the Conference, he stated, “Good nutrition and a healthy diet is important in every phase of life. It is even more crucial, during pregnancy, both for the health of the mother and the baby during the first years of the babies’ life.” He further said, “One third of world’s women with anaemia live in South Asia. Improving nutritional situation of women and children in South Asia requires reaching out to women during adolescence, pre-conception and pregnancy stage. In the meanwhile, combining nutrition-specific interventions with measures aimed at empowering women is essential.”

 

Kathmandu, 07 May 2018