Plan to optimise nutritional status

PUTRAJAYA: The Health Ministry yesterday launched the National Plan of Action for Nurtrition of Malaysia (NPANM) III to help the people attain optimum nutritional wellbeing.

Its Minister Datuk Seri Dr S Subramaniam said the integrated action plan, starting this year until 2025, was drafted in line with the nutrition agenda direction at the international, regional and national level by taking into account the nutritional status of the populace.

“NPANM III’s main objectives are to improve the people’s nutritional status, reduce diet related non

NPANM III’s main objectives are to improve the people’s nutritional status, reduce diet related non communicable diseases and ensuring the availability of food and nutrition security.

communicable diseases and ensuring the availability of food and nutrition security,” he told a media conference after launching the NPANM III here yesterday.

He said NPANM Ill contains 12 strategies and 172 activities, involving 80 implementing agencies comprising government agencies and non governmental organisations.

At present Malaysia is faced with challenges relating to the double burden of malnutrition in which obesity and non communicable diseases related to diet were on the rise in all age groups, he said.

“For example, over 45 per cent of the people are now overweight and 15 per cent of them are obese while school children who have excessive body weight have reached 20 per cent,” he said.

Dr Subramaniam said problems associated with weight had seen over 17.5 per cent of the people currently suffering from diabetes, 30 per cent high blood pressure and 47 per cent with unhealthy cholesterol levels.

In addition, he said the ministry also found Malaysians were consuming less fruits and vegetables than the amount recommended and these problems were among the items in the action plan launched yesterday.

He said the availability of food and the provision of sustainable food system to promote healthy food would also be given more attention.

Hence, the close cooperation between the ministry and the Agriculture and Agro based Ministry and all stakeholders in the food chain would be strengthened under the NPANM III, he said.

At the function, he also launched the Nutrition Research Priorities in Malaysia for the 11th Malaysia Plan, which was set up to support the implementation of NPANM III. — Bernama

Datuk Seri Dr S Subramaniam, Health minister