Public Health Nutrition in Afghanistan: Policies, Strategies, and Capacity-Building Initiatives

By:
Jyoti Sharma, Homayoun Ludin, Monika Chauhan, Sanjay Zodpey
Date:
2021
Resource type:
Blogs/news/opinion
Link:

This study reviews nutrition policies and capacity-building initiatives in Afghanistan, mapping the current policy landscape and identifying gaps and opportunities. The findings indicate that while multisectoral nutrition policies exist, their implementation remains inconsistent, largely due to conflict, lack of trained professionals, and weak institutions.

The review highlights that maternal and child nutrition policies have improved outcomes, but noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), urbanization, and changing diets pose new challenges. Limited evidence exists on the effectiveness of nutrition programs, and Afghanistan lacks a structured nutrition education system. The authors emphasize the urgent need for an institutional mechanism to train and accredit nutrition professionals.

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